In a message dated 96-10-02 18:29:11 EDT, HILL.SHARON@a1.pader.gov (Sharon A. Hill) writes: > Could it be feasable to think that feathers might be a "seasonal" > characteristic? Reptiles shed their skin to grow. Is that analogous? Possible but not very likely. What is more likely is molting, wherein old feathers are shed as new ones grow in.