Dragons of the Air: An Account of Extinct Flying Reptiles

When a young law student first heard Sir Richard Owen speak of vanished winged beasts, a lifelong curiosity was sparked. He left the courtroom for the stone‑laden cliffs of Cambridge, spending a decade painstakingly piecing together broken fragments of ancient reptiles, birds, and mammals. The narrative follows his early fieldwork, his collaborations with leading geologists, and the excitement of watching once‑lost specimens come together under the careful eye of a dedicated naturalist.

Listeners will be guided through the anatomy of these prehistoric flyers—how their hollow bones, membranous wings, and unique lung structures compare with modern birds, bats, and even gliding lizards. Rich, period illustrations bring the creatures to life, while clear explanations reveal what the fossils tell us about evolution, adaptation, and the rise and fall of the true “dragons of the air.” The book offers a window into the methods of early 20th‑century science, inviting anyone fascinated by the ancient sky to share in the wonder of discovery.