>Local maxima: points where the gradient of the evaluation function for 
>
>relative survival is 0, and all local orthonormal frames have the 
>survival function decreasing on all basis vectors.  [This is a fancy 
>way 
>of saying 'locally optimal solutions that Natural selection ends up 
>at'.]
>
>If the mutations don't go far enough, they will wipe before finding 
>any 
>nearby [improved] local maximum.
Kenneth, could you say something more about 'ortholnormal frames'? 
That's a tool not in my cognitive tool box.
Take care.  -KMO