A product of speculative evolution, the gryphon is a descendant of birds, probably corvids, which gave up flight, redeveloped claws on the forelimbs (like the hoatzin) and evolved into brachiators to exploit the new environment of closely interwoven branches in tanglewood forests. Later on, when the tanglewoods died back, some of the brachiating birds moved out onto the newly opening savannahs and developed into cursorial predators. The 'ears' are just tufts of feathers, like an owl's, as are the 'wings', elongated feathers that can be raised or lowered for display.

I posted this a while back, then took it down because I was getting extremely annoyed by people who had a very narrow-minded view of what future evolution might be capable of. This critter isn't *likely*, but it also isn't completely *impossible*. Also, I decided on reflection I quite liked the drawing, sketchy as it is.