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