From: Jack B.
Subject: feathers
Posting-date: Mon, 15 May 1995 04:00:00 EST

> Dear Mr. Bagwell -
> Paris would like to ask you something. He wonders
>"How do birds get their feathers?"
> Thank you for answering!
> Paris

Paris,

Feathers are made out of the same building blocks as skin, fingernails, claws,
hair and scales. A substance (a protein) called keratin makes all of these
structures useful in animals (humans also have some of these structures).
The feathers allow the birds to stay warm and dry, to swim, catch insects
(in some instances) and to communicate with other birds. They are very useful
structures. Feathers make birds unique. No other animals have feathers.
In fact, the definition of a bird is an animal with feathers.
I'm not sure this answered your question. If you want me to discuss it a little
more, I would be happy to.

Jack Bagwell