Re: Dinosaurs from La Brea Tar Pits --??--

[Ben Waggoner <bmw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Wed, 29 Nov 1995 Dinogeorge@aol.com wrote:

> >What the sentence refers to is the bones of birds, such as _Teratornis_, 
> >that were found in the tar pits, and under a phylogenetic classification
> >are in fact dinosaurs, phylogeny being the only basis for a rational 
> >classification. Right, George?
> >
> >[sheepish, yet sly chuckle]
> 
> You see the confusion that cladistics sows?
> 
Did the phrase "sheepish, yet sly chuckle" not tip you off to the fact that
the above sentence was intended to be at least somewhat ironically humorous, 
in view of your views on cladistics, that you've recently expressed 
in assorted newsgroups? It does not reflect confusion in my mind or in the
minds of its other practitioners. Phylogenetic taxonomy is an antidote 
for confusion. Do you wish to continue this argument here or take it to
sci.bio.paleontology (again)?

Ben