Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site psivax.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!sdcsvax!sdcrdcf!psivax!friesen From: friesen@psivax.UUCP (Stanley Friesen) Newsgroups: net.origins Subject: Re: EnGardaeopteryx (part 4 of 6) Message-ID: <349@psivax.UUCP> Date: Thu, 28-Feb-85 11:48:18 EST Article-I.D.: psivax.349 Posted: Thu Feb 28 11:48:18 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 4-Mar-85 04:08:47 EST References: <732@uwmacc.UUCP> <620@mhuxt.UUCP> <296@petrus.UUCP> Reply-To: friesen@psivax.UUCP (Stanley friesen) Organization: Pacesetter Systems Inc., Sylmar, CA Lines: 25 Summary: >> Just what would you require of an intermediate specie between birds >> and reptiles, Paul? You criticized Arch.'s feathers as being almost >> identicle with modern bird feathers. You want maybe some sort of useless >> half-feather? Why would something like that be selected for? >> Why would you expect a specie with useless features to survive >> long enough to leave any kind of fossil record? >> -- >> Jeff Sonntag >> ihnp4!mhuxt!js2j > You seem top be assuming that the *primary* purpose of feathers is flight. This is incorrect, the main purpose of feathers is *insulation*, and even a "half feather" will have more insulating ability than raw scales. Just because full feathers are *also* usefull for flight does not mean that that is all yhey are good for! In fact there is at least one fossil which appears to have these "half-feathers". It is, I think, called "Longisquama", and has seems to have elongate, ridged scales. It was discovered in Russia a few years ago. -- Sarima (Stanley Friesen) {trwrb|allegra|cbosgd|hplabs|ihnp4|aero!uscvax!akgua}!sdcrdcf!psivax!friesen or {ttdica|quad1|bellcore|scgvaxd}!psivax!friesen