Hami, China

The city of Hami in China is also known as the city of Kumul in the province of Xinjiang. Hami is famous for its melons, but not much else. The Han people were in constant strife with the Xiongnu people over this region, as it was very fertile. When the Mongols invaded a small kingdom was established here called Qara Del. Benedict Goës visited on his travels through the area when he traveled to Cathay to see whether or not it was China.  Apparently, in the past the Chinese procured diamonds, gold and agate from this region.

Researched from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hami_City for Popsicle Stick Project #1
 

Lamarck vs Darwin on Woodpeckers

What would Lamarck have said about a woodpecker's cushioned head? And how would Darwin have replied? A hypothetical conversation:

Lamarck: Bonjour Charles!

Darwin: Cheerio Jean-Baptiste!

Lamarck: Ze woodpecker is a hard-headed old fellow no?

Darwin: Yes, thanks to natural selection.

Lamarck: Aah mon ami (shaking head dubiously). I say it is due to using his head over and over again to make holes in ze trees! He uses it and uses it and develops a cushioning layer from all this use. That cushion protects him. His little baby woodpecker inherits it from him no?

Darwin: Jean-Baptiste, you have made a mistake. The woodpecker inherits the cushioned head as follows:

Imagine a large population of woodpeckers. Some have well-cushioned heads, some have less-cushioned heads.

Woodpeckers with well-cushioned heads can peck holes in trees more effectively than woodpeckers with less-cushioned heads. This enabled the woodpeckers with well-cushioned heads to survive better during times of low food supply than their less-cushioned counterparts.

The woodpeckers with well-cushioned heads have a trait that helps them survive longer. This makes them more attractive to female woodpeckers. And as a result, they reproduce more.