Actually ... In ancient days people dug up bones of a creature which had a beak like an eagle and a slightly crested skull, it had a body the size of a lion and four clawed legs. So they imagined it must be some sort of eagle-lion mix, and the gryphon was invented. We now know those bones belonged to the protoceratops, which probably did not have feathers, although many therapod dinosaurs did have feathers (that is the branch of dinosaurs containing raptors, tyrannosaurs and birds).
WOW, you know your stuff.
I told you it is a good documentary.
In search for another interesting documentary now. Might post another thread later, once I find it.