big goose book

["James Farlow" <farlow@ipfw.edu>]

With the current news flap about dromornithids, I thought it opportune
to let everybody know that Peter Murray and Pat Rich have written a book
about the anatomy, relationships, functional morphology, and
paleobiology of dromornithids for Indiana University Press.  As editor
of the paleo series for IUP, I have already read the first draft of the
ms (which has gone back to the authors for final tweaking prior to going
to press).  This will be a a fun book, and people will want it for the
art alone--Murray and Rich have come up with some of the most beautiful
drawings of bones, muscle reconstructions, and life restorations I have
seen in a long time.  I think that this will become the standard
reference for dromornithids for some time.

Among other things, the authors devote considerable attention to
possible diets of those big birds.  But I'm not going to tell you what
they say (heh heh).  To steal a line from the good Dr. Holtz--wait till
the publication comes out.  (And then buy it, OK?  I still have a kid to
put through university)

In the meantime, have a look at our moa book, if big feathered beasts
are what ring your chimes...