Archaeopteryx has widely been claimed to be the outstanding piece of evidence for macro-evolution in general and for evolution from reptiles to birds in particular. But while it is the oldest known bird and also an interesting mosaic containing some features also found in reptiles, there is neither evidence of a lineage from reptiles to Archaeopteryx nor from it to any living birds. Further, and also most importantly, natural selection is inadequate as a possible mechanism to explain the descent of Archaeopteryx. In view of the evidence, science has oversold the case for Archaeopteryx as a transitional form.