XPost: rec.arts.books.tolkien   
   From: fwbrown@bellsouth.net   
      
   In rec.arts.books.tolkien Sandman  wrote:   
   > In article , Sandman    
   wrote:   
   >   
   >> The normal fantasy "dragon"-attachement of wings to the side of the   
   >> body isn't really found in nature who tends to attach it to jointed   
   >> parts in order to maximize control. Even winged lizards like Draco Volans   
   >> has its wings attached to it's hind legs   
   >   
   > I might add here that the way a dragon's wigs attaches to the side of its   
   > body most certainly comes from the appearance of bird wings, who *seem* to   
   > attach to its body, and certainly not its legs. Of course, birds don't have   
   > a wing membrane and the feathers closest to its body is shorter to give   
   > better aerodynamics for the full wing, and thus appear to "end" or even   
   > attach on the bird's side.   
   >   
   > An airplane has a thicker wing at the base since that gives better   
   > aerodynamics for a fixed wing, while it works the other way around for a   
   > flapping wing.   
      
   One of the things I love about this newsgroup is the wide variety of   
   interesting things being discussed that somehow stay related to the   
   main topic.   
      
   --   
   F. Wayne Brown    
      
   Þæs ofereode, ðisses swa mæg.  ("That passed away, this also can.")   
      from "Deor," in the Exeter Book (folios 100r-100v)   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)