[NormsRevenge]

A selection of discovered Dodo bones are seen on this photo provided by the Naturalis Museum in Leiden, the Netherlands, Friday, Dec, 23, 2005. Last October 28, a Dutch-Mauritian research team discovered Dodo remains on the southeastern part of Mauritius, the material's age is estimated at 2000 to 3000 years. (AP Photo/ Naturalis Museum)

[pcottraux]

Let's clone 'em.

[Old Sarge]

a Dodo leads a "caucus race" in which the rules are hazy, contestants run in circles, and everybody wins a prize.

Now, Class, How many such caucuses can we name?

And which political ideology would use it the best?

Please confine your answers to three letters. You may begin.

[gov_bean_ counter]

I guess they are still looking for the Dutch oven.

[Founding Father]

Ping....

Additional story:
http://www.news24.com/News24/Technology/News/0,,2-13-1443_1855105,00.html

Rare Dodo bones unearthed
23/12/2005 21:49 - (SA)

Port Louis - A Dutch-Mauritian research team has discovered remains of the extinct Dodo bird, dating back 2 000 to 3 000 years, in Mauritius.

Researches say the find will allow for the first scientific research into, and reconstruction of the world in which, the Dodo lived before settlers landed on the island and wiped out the species.

The fossil was excavated in "Mare aux Songes", a low-lying swamp area in the dry south-eastern part of the island.

So far, 27 square metres have been excavated and more than 700 bones recovered.

According to researches, all the bones have been found in one layer, suggesting a mass grave.

Also unearthed at the site are the remains of Dodo chicks and a very rare part of the bird's beak, only a few of which are known to exist.

Fossilised giant tortoise found

In addition to the Dodo remains, the find included bones of various other extinct bird species, indigenous giant tortoise species, and a baby giant tortoise, as well as a large number of seeds and remains of (partly) extinct trees and plants.

Further studies of the Mare aux Songes site's geology and ecology are expected to reconstruct the area's landscape, wildlife, and vegetation, determining if the animals may have perished en masse due to a natural disaster.

In addition, the studies will enable scientists to research how such a massive collection of bones, seeds, and wood ended up in the swamp and how it has remained so well preserved.

The studies will be carried out by local botanical specialists from Mauritius in close co-operation with leading European institutes from the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

The Dodo was a flightless member of the pigeon family native only to the island of Mauritius.

The Portuguese, arriving on the island in 1505, shot the Dodo for fresh meat eventually wiping out the species in 1681.

It was the first known animal species to be wiped out by the actions of man and not the evolution of nature.

Of the 45 bird species originally found on the island, only 21 still survive.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Founding Father. This could go under either biology or catastrophism in the GGG.

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