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Fiercely magnificent.

In my pantheon of dragons, it is their fire-breathing ability that allows them to fly. I designed my dragons with a "fire-lung," a leathery bellows where ethyl alcohol is mixed with air and exploded to power the wings' down-stroke.

To me, it's the only way to get such an elephantine mass into the air. They are organic internal combustion engines.

No one else seems concerned about the scientific aspects of it. "They fly. So what?" is the reaction.

Well, they can't fly. Not without something rather magical. Internal combustion lifted the Wright Flyer, and it could lift a dragon too.

Still, how do they keep from getting drunk?

He made a quick survey of the room. All were present. Without ceremony, he began speaking.

“Today we will discuss dragons. No doubt all of you are very familiar with them, having seen them all your lives. Nevertheless we will go over the basics, because that is where ignorance can be most excruciatingly painful.”

“As far as I know, dragons are unique to the worlds of your system. Their presence here seems to antedate the arrival of people. It would be wise to consider that this is their world, and that you are the recent arrivals, as am I.”

He turned his attention to a small frilled lizard on his desk, and reached out toward it with his metal hand.

The small animal watched him guardedly, and then belched out a firey warning, engulfing the approaching hand. Talon calmly raised the hand up to examine the burning flame.

“If we examined this liquid, we would find that it is made up almost completely of ethanol alcohol, with some long-chain sugars added in to give it a bit of viscosity and adhesion.” Slowly the flames dwindled. He wriggled his hand to show no harm had been done.

“This desert lizard shares much of its genetic make-up with our magnificent dragons, including at least three unique capabilities.” He looked at them again. “You are taking notes, aren’t you?” He inquired mildly. He watched them quickly get out their supplies.

“It has the ability to generate from its own biological processes a combustible fuel. It can eject and ignite it.” He reached from behind the animal to scoop it up, and lofted it toward the back of the classroom. The beast spread wings and with a popping sound it flew to land on a tall cupboard in the corner. “And it can fly.”

Ignoring the animal for the moment, as well as the squirming students, he continued. “As you heard, the flight was accompanied by a buzzing or popping sound. That is the fuel being oxidized in an internal “fire-lung” -- a leathery pouch that is modified from surface tissue, but controlled in a manner similar to lungs.”

“Air is drawn in, the chamber is sealed, fuel in the form of alcohol is injected, and a spark ignites the mixture. When the gases expand, they push the wings downward. It is this force which allows the animal to fly.”

“All of this is known, and deducible. What is not known, for this species, at least, is the method of ignition. Your study assignment is to determine that process, by a non-lethal examination of the specimen. You will find protective gear in that cupboard back there. Anyone who gets his or her hair singed off will get a failing grade. Eyebrows can be overlooked.”

“The second part of your assignment is to develop a theory about how this mechanism came to be developed, and in what order specific mutations may have occurred. You may work in groups of as many as four. Have the papers completed for handing in at the beginning of the week.”

He looked around at the assembled group once more. “Your laboratory period will coincide with my morning repast. When I return from my meal, I expect to find everything in good order, and some precise notes ready to be read aloud to the class. You may proceed.” He donned his cloak and hat and left the students to their own devices.