Re: Origin of feathers

[Dinogeorge <Dinogeorge@aol.com>]

In a message dated 98-04-15 03:10:08 EDT, Patrick.Norton@state.me.us writes:

<< With a few flying lessons under my belt, I'm aware of the importance of   
 creating drag as an aid in survivable landings. But it's the last thing   
 you want if you're attempting sustained flight. For that you need lift.   
 Protofeathers that created drag might help small creatures survive a fall   
 from moderate heights, but, by themselves, they would be maladaptive for   
 flight. >>

When birds first took to the air, they weren't powered fliers, and their
evolution certainly wasn't directed toward becoming powered fliers. So the
drag of pre-feathers was an important advantage. Later, when they became
better at flying and controlling themselves while aloft, the dragginess of
their feathers diminished. As I've said here before, you cannot frame a
hypothesis in such a form as to have the future influence the past. When it
was advantageous for them to have draggy feathers, they had them; when it was
not, they lost them.