RE: Origin of feathers

["Norton, Patrick" <Patrick.Norton@state.me.us>]

>(Bird) evolution certainly wasn't directed toward becoming powered   
fliers<

Agreed.

>As I've said here before, you cannot frame a hypothesis in such a form   
as to have the future influence the past. <

I didn't; but thanks for the lecture.

>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.<

And this whole sequence began with dinosaurs falling out of trees?