As to believing in evolution in general, a few fossils more or less mean
nothing. Being convinced of the reality of evolution, my interest is in
thinking
critically about it, and criticizing those would brush aside problems in the
interest of putting a solid front against anti-evolutionists. A favorite
subject
of doubt for me is the arranging of known animals in supposedly phylogenetic
series, and the hasty popping-in of every new fossil find. I guess if a
scientist
were to say 'This is odd, I don't know how this fits in', there would be no
press
release, no grant, no promotion. And no blow against creationism.
As to the matter of hollow bones, one may wonder which came first, the
light hollow bones that facilitate flight and rapid respiration, or the flight
that brought selection pressure for such bones. There may have been niches
in which lightness and high metabolism was advantageous for a terrestrial
organism. For example, in trees or in dry open country, neither of which are
likely spots for fossilization.
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--Cliff Lundberg ~ San Francisco ~ cliff@noe.com