Re: help: reptile scale to bird feathers

[Matt Fraser <mattf+@xxxxxxxx>]

On Wed, 4 Jun 1997, Manfred Krautter wrote:

> Michael Sternberg wrote:
> 
> >Another plausible reason for the development of deciduous feathers would be
> >to remove nitrogenous waste.  Store that nitrogen in something that falls
> >out once or twice a year.
> 
> That sounds quite interesting and it could help to explain this
> evolutionary process without hanging to strictly on darwinistic concepts.
> Has anybody more ideas about it??

While certainly an intriguing notion, I can't help but wonder why
deciduous feathers would need to develop for the purpose of removing
nitrogenous waste, when urinary tracts do such a good job.  Or is this in
relation to the gout evidence that was recently found.  Perhaps they
weren't that good at it?

Matt

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