XPost: rec.arts.books.tolkien   
   From: fwbrown@bellsouth.net   
      
   In alt.fan.tolkien Sandman  wrote:   
   > In article , Wayne Brown wrote:   
   >   
   >> > > Sandman:   
   >> > > 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.   
   >   
   > Also, discussions about dragons supposedly having *wigs*, not one wig, but   
   > several. Maybe they don't like being bald? :-D   
      
   I'm sure it would take several to cover a dragon's head.  Maybe they   
   wear them as disguises while hiding from dragon-slayers.   
      
   --   
   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)