HESPERORNITHID FEATHERS etc

[<darren.naish@port.ac.uk>]

On birds with down-like feathers (as Ron pointed out, 
_Sinornithosaurus_ and the like may have lacked true down: however, 
I think the argument is that their integument was down-like, if you 
will), Tim wrote..

> Feather impressions found associated with one hesperornithid specimen
> are very hair-like...

Apparently the thing about hesperornithiforms having plumalaceous 
feathers is not right. Per Christiansen has discussed this in an MS 
which I think is in press (pers. comm.).

On _Archaeopteryx_: I forget where I read it, but don't the bases of 
_Archaeopteryx_ feathers have plumalaceous tufts? These are at least 
suggestive of an insulative function. This is in the archives somewhere.

DARREN NAISH 
PALAEOBIOLOGY RESEARCH GROUP
School of Earth & Environmental Sciences
UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH
Burnaby Building
Burnaby Road                           email: darren.naish@port.ac.uk
Portsmouth UK                          tel (mobile): 0776 1372651     
P01 3QL                                tel (office): 023 92842244