The setting -- Osteology and Ichnology -- Eggs, nests, feathers, and flight.

"Inspired by the spectacular discoveries of the past two decades from the Age of Reptiles in China, Riddle of the Feathered Dragons explores how these miraculous fossils have transformed the contentious arena of bird and dinosaur evolution. Aside from being the most comprehensive discussion of these avian and associated discoveries, the author delves into the world of investigative journalism to expose the darker side of the world of fossil birds and dinosaurs. The book exposes the massive unfounded speculation that has characterized the field of vertebrate paleontology and published extensively in the world's most prestigious journals, including everything from supposed dinosaur protein to so-called feathered dinosaurs. The book questions the validity of the foundational tenets of the now "unquestionable orthodoxy" of bird and dinosaur evolution, including bird origins, feathered dinosaurs, flight origin from the ground-up and hot-blooded dinosaurs and their proteins. It exposes how speculation has gone far beyond the ability of the currently available evidence to yield answers. The author concludes that birds are best defined by a more traditional definition of the possession of feathers and avian flight architecture, that the so-called "feathered dinosaurs" are most likely derived avians, and that flight clearly originated from the trees-down, from ancestors that antedated the dinosaurs, rather than a direct linear descent"--

Douglas Niles pens a thrilling climax to The Maztica Trilogy, the exotic location set within the Forgotten Realms. The greatest city in Maztica lies in ruins as a plague of hideous monsters descends across the land. From the ashes of destruction, a tenuous alliance forms. Legionnaires and native warriors fight side by side, desperate to stem the onslaught of chaos. Their only hope of victory requires aid from beyond Faerun—the prophecy given to Erixitl of Palul: Quotal, immortal Plumed Serpent, will return to Maztica for a final battle against the forces of evil. But already the Feathered Dragon may be too late.

Here be Dragons... Not the slavering, whimsical monsters from childhood fancies, but real Dragons—fierce, complex, wondrous, and wild. They do not require our belief; they never have. With hard science and myth, empirical wisdom, and original line drawings, The Dragon Keeper's Handbook is the draconic enchiridion for the modern world, providing everything you need to know about these extraordinary beings. From disparate theories of Dragon evolution and the golden geometry of their form to modern conservation efforts and how to release a well-weaned orphan back into the wild, this book answers all your questions, even those you didn't know to ask. From awe-inspiring Cosmic Creators to wee pisuhänds guarding hearth and home, discover the habits and habitats of Dragons and pseudo-dragons both familiar and rare. The Dragon Keeper's Handbook shows us how human and Dragon lives are bound together and why Dragons are now and ever-will-be relevant: In their wildness lie lessons for us all.

Dr. Seuss's Cat in the Hat introduces Sally and Dick to a variety of birds, from the ten-foot ostrich to the two-inch hummingbird.

Are giant, fire-breathing dragons real, or just a myth? You decide with this new book in the nonfiction series, Behind the Legend! Behind the Legend looks at creatures and monsters throughout history and analyzes them through a scientific, myth-busting lens, debating whether or not the sightings and evidence provided are adequate proof of their existence. In Dragons, readers learn about all the sightings and "proof" of them, from stories in history of dragons that terrorized towns, the people who fought them, such as St. George, and stories from other cultures, including China, Japan, and Mexico. This book also discusses additional history about the monster, including how dragons became major figures in popular culture, "modern" dragons, and theories behind their conception in our cultural history. Complete with engaging anecdotes, interesting sidebars, and fantastic illustrations, this book is one kids won't want to put down!