Actually water is an excellent *conductor* of heat, much better than air;
its heat capacity is irrelevant in this case. As Don points out you'll
develop hypothermia in 45F water faster than in 45F air. Air is *the*
insulator in down sleeping bags and fiberglass insulation. Heat is lost
in four ways: via radiation, conduction, convection (movement of the
medium) and evaporation. Radiation, convection (wind chill) and
evaporation are the principal avenues of heat loss in air, conduction and
convection in water. Countercurrent blood circulation serves many animals
to reduce heat loss. In addition, bird's legs are operated by remote
control; the muscle mass is close to the body & feathered, so it stays
warm. The bare legs consist mostly of of skin, bones & tendons with some
vascularization.

Herb Curl
Seattle WA

h.curl at hazmat.noaa.gov "You may be only young once but you can be
Hazmat/NOAA, 7600 Sand Pt. Wy., NE immature the rest of your life."
Seattle, WA 98115-0070
(206) 526-6272