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.

Rain, Rain, Rain

Although rain water is fresh,
it still contains some salt.

Clever Parrots

Parrots can learn human language.

Baby Giraffes

Most mammals give birth lying down.
But did you know that baby giraffes are born
with their Moms standing upright during labor?

From a height of about six feet, the baby
twists midair to land on its feet.

Isn't that neat?












Mom's Note: Discover more cool facts about giraffes at KidsPlanet.org

Nature

Nature is for people.

Do not destroy Nature.

There won't be much of it
left for my generation to enjoy if you do.