The Eighty-second Beast. The beast has adapted to wade in the water and hunt small crustaceans and fish.  Its wings still boast an eye facade and strangely specialized feathers for threat and sexual display, but do not support flight.

The Eighty-second Beast.

The beast has adapted to wade in the water and hunt small crustaceans and fish.  Its wings still boast an eye facade and strangely specialized feathers for threat and sexual display, but do not support flight.

Eighty-one. The beast is lighter and runs faster. Its arm-feathers now function as a threat display, but do not allow flight.

Eighty-one. The beast is lighter and runs faster. Its arm-feathers now function as a threat display, but do not allow flight.

The Eightieth Beast. The beast’s feathers have become layered and more structured and specialized.  Its body has become more squat but also built for speed.

The Eightieth Beast.

The beast’s feathers have become layered and more structured and specialized.  Its body has become more squat but also built for speed.

Exquisite Beast number seventy-nine! It stands on two legs, and its tail has become longer for balance. The display pseudo-feathers around its head have grown longer and more functional as insulation.

Exquisite Beast number seventy-nine! It stands on two legs, and its tail has become longer for balance. The display pseudo-feathers around its head have grown longer and more functional as insulation.

The Seventy-eighth Beast. The beast’s elaborate mask has shrunken into something smaller and more practical, being replaced by a voluminous mane as its point of sexual selection.  Its scaling has shrunken and thinned out into a feather-like fur.

The Seventy-eighth Beast.

The beast’s elaborate mask has shrunken into something smaller and more practical, being replaced by a voluminous mane as its point of sexual selection.  Its scaling has shrunken and thinned out into a feather-like fur.

The seventy-seventh beast. Its face and horns have developed into an enormous, elaborate mask, sexually selected for based upon its complexity and size until it is completely ridiculous. Its body is lower to the ground to support its newly front-heavy shape.

The seventy-seventh beast. Its face and horns have developed into an enormous, elaborate mask, sexually selected for based upon its complexity and size until it is completely ridiculous. Its body is lower to the ground to support its newly front-heavy shape.

The Seventy-sixth Beast. The beast has become taller and with more streamlined scaling.  It uses its small third set of arms to gain purchase while searching for high foliage and clashing with other members of the species.

The Seventy-sixth Beast.

The beast has become taller and with more streamlined scaling.  It uses its small third set of arms to gain purchase while searching for high foliage and clashing with other members of the species.

Seventy-five. The beast stands on four of its six legs now, and its covering has become dense plate armor. The antlers point forward as intimidating horns for grappling.

Seventy-five. The beast stands on four of its six legs now, and its covering has become dense plate armor. The antlers point forward as intimidating horns for grappling.

The Seventy-fourth Beast. The beast has become a lumbering grazing land beast, akin to a musk ox. Evan and I are at NYCC this weekend!  Visit us at booth #166.

The Seventy-fourth Beast.

The beast has become a lumbering grazing land beast, akin to a musk ox.

Evan and I are at NYCC this weekend!  Visit us at booth #166.

The seventy-third beast. Its lures have become shorter, sturdier antlers that might function now to attract mates instead of prey. Its six limbs are adapted now for climbing among branches, rather than just sticking to the trunk.

The seventy-third beast. Its lures have become shorter, sturdier antlers that might function now to attract mates instead of prey. Its six limbs are adapted now for climbing among branches, rather than just sticking to the trunk.