1. Phylogeny of Early Vertebrate Skeletal Induction and Ossification Patterns. - Introduction: The Fossil Record. - The Vertebrate Skeleton. - The Products of Skeletogenesis. - The Problem of Ontogenetic Similarity. - The Phylogenetic Basis of Investigation. - Findings. - Discussion. - Conclusions. - Appendix: Characters Related to Vertebrate Skeletogenesis. - References. - 2. A Review of the Origin of Snakes. - The Paleontological Evidence and Early Theories of Snake Origins. - The Affinities of Snakes. - The Classification of Snakes: Basic Divisions. - The Ecology of Snake Origins. - References. - 3. Horses the Fossil Record and Evolution: A Current Perspective. - Fossil Horses and Evolutionary Thought. - Origin and Diversification of the Perissodactyla. - Synoptic History of Horses: The First 25 Million Years. - The Miocene: Acme of Horse Evolution. - The Last Eight Million Years of Horse Evolution. - Selected Evolutionary Principles. - Summary and Conclusions. - References. - 4. Historical Biogeography of the Drosophila melanogaster Species Subgroup. - Biogeographic and Ecological Evidence. - Unequivocal versus Equivocal Phylogenetic Relationships. - Paleobiogeographic Inferences. - Concluding Remarks and Summary. - References. - 5. Aposematism and Batesian Mimicry: Measuring Mimetic Advantage in Natural Habitats. - Some Background Information on Aposematism and Mimicry. - Studies with Captive Predators or at Feeding Stations in the Field. - Studies in Natural Habitats. - Discussion. - Future Research. - Summary. - References. - 6. Body Size Ecological Constraints and the Evolution of Life-History Strategies. - Body Size As a Central Feature in Life-History Patterns. - Patterns of Covariation in Life-History Traits Body Size and Ecological Background. - Body Size and Biotic Interactions. - Conclusion. -Summary. - References. Language: English