Mammalia sister of Reptilia?

[DR. JAMES ADAMS]

Dear Taxacomers,

        I know that we were talking about grammar, but the statement
itself bothers me.  How can a clearly paraphyletic group (like the
reptiles) that to be monophyletic would *include* the mammals be
the *sister* to anything?  The sister would be the closest
*monophyletic* lineage within the reptiles to the mammals, not the
reptiles as a whole.

        Just my two cents worth.  Sorry if someone else has already
pointed this out!

                James

Dr. James K. Adams
Dept. of Natural Science and Math
Dalton State College
213 N. College Drive
Dalton, GA  30720
Phone: (706)272-4427; fax: (706)272-2533
U of Michigan's President James Angell's
  Secret of Success: "Grow antennae, not horns"