Jane Stewart wrote:

> A very good bird watcher once told me that swallows beat their wings
> together and swifts alternate.

That's one of those old wives tales (if you'll pardon me for what is
probably now a politically incorrect phrase) that should be have been
expunged from biological folklore long ago. Maybe swifts _appear_ to be
beating alternately, but I'll bet it's not even aerodynamically possible
for a bird to move that way.

Burt Guttman guttmanb at elwha.evergreen.edu
The Evergreen State College Voice: 360-866-6000, x. 6755
Olympia, WA 98505 FAX: 360-866-6794

Reunite Gondwanaland!