Subject: penguin embryology & Montlake update
Date: Mar 17 15:59:38 1997
From: Kathleen Hunt - jespah at u.washington.edu



Hi tweets! Well, here is another test of what is or isn't on-topic for
tweeters: the history of research on penguin embryology. Okay, I know
penguins are not a northwest bird (though there are some in
Seattle...well, okay, at the zoo.) But I thought perhaps some of you
might know something, or could maybe forward the post to a more
appropriate group. Here's the story: I got an e-mail from a physician in
rural Arizona today. He is researching the scientific discoveries, and
mistakes, of Scott's ill-fated expedition to the South Pole. One of the
people on Scott's team was Eadward Wilson ("Physician, Second in Command,
& Senior Ornithologist") and one of his primary motivations in travelling
to Antarctica was to try to collect penguin eggs. In those days, penguins
were (mistakenly) believed to be very primitive, and the "ontogeny
recapitulates phylogeny" view of embryology was still very strong. So, he
reasoned, if birds were descended from reptiles, penguin embryos should
show reptilian traits such as teeth, and therefore examination of penguin
eggs would be an important test of Darwin's theory of evolution.

One of the (many) reasons Scott's team died is that Wilson refused to
abandon the 35 lbs of fossils that he had collected.

Does anyone on tweeters know anything more about this topic (the history
of early penguin research)? If so please contact me & I will forward the
info to my correspondent.

Obligatory birding note:
Yesterday evening at Montlake fill there were dozens of coots and
shovelers, two bufflehead pairs, several ruddy duck pairs (the males are
half-ruddy now. Almost "ruddy to go". sorry about that), several scaup
pairs, and a beautiful ring-necked duck pair who were both preening up a
storm. Didn't see any shorebirds by the pond. No raptors in sight. And
also, Canada geese, lotsa robins, crows flying in to roost by the athletic
fields, a Bewick's wren who jumped up when I pished, and a handsome black
domestic rabbit sitting quietly by the pond. Extremely obvious bunny, all
black like that -- I suppose it's only a matter of time before a dog or
some large hawk (redtail? harrier?) picks him off.


happy birding,
Kathleen