PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 33 



accustomed to nibble off a small portion of the vane of their long middle tail 

 feathers, within a short distance of their extremity, leaving the tips barbed and 

 untouched, as also the entire remainder of their plumage. The same habit was 

 pointed out as existing in an Indian group of Magpies (Dendrocettce of Gould), 

 which considerably resembled the Motmot in outward form, and it was suggested 

 that attention and observation of the two groups, considered relatively, might 

 possibly elicit the intent of so anomalous a practice. The protuberance on the 

 beak of the Hornbills furnished the next subject of consideration, which was 

 descanted on at some length, and attention was called to a similar appendage in 

 the Ani ( Crotophagti), a South American genus, its presence in both instances 

 being accompanied by eyelashes, which is of very unusual occurrence among birds, 

 and which connection argued that the protuberance was not designed for mere 

 ornament, as some have supposed, but evidently for a direct object, probably to 

 detach particles of dust, from which the eyelashes would seem intended to protect 

 the eye. The gull-tufts of the Heron group — a tuft of peculiar unelastic cottony 

 down, present in those birds — was mentioned as being a structure designed to 

 protect the breast from water, these birds frequently standing with the bare part 

 of their legs quite immersed, so that, when they stretch out the neck to seize a 

 fish, the body was often bent very much forward, and the water would conse- 

 quently chill the chest, were it not defended by this peculiar structure, which 

 was quite impervious. Mr. Blyth discussed at considerable length the long- 

 contested question of the intent of pectinated claws of birds, detailed the various 

 opinions which had been brought forward on the subject, and argued that no 

 animal was furnished with express means of ridding itself of its parasitic 

 annoyance, however it might make use of structures designed for quite another 

 purpose. He contended that the pectinated claw was for detaching fish scales or 

 Beetles' claws that had adhered to the sides and corners of the mouth. 



Mr. Vigors, M.P., congratulated the Society on the great accession of talent 

 it had gained, in allusion to the interesting observations which had been made 

 by Mr. Blyth. — He rejoiced that such a Society had been established, as it 

 would doubtless lead to inquiries highly interesting to ornithologists. — Matters 

 in themselves apparently trifling had conduced to the illustration of great and 

 important results. A hundred times he found that a research after minor 

 characters, which were calculated to escape the eye of common observation, 

 carried out truths highly interesting. — The clump of feathers on the head of an 

 Owl, the claws upon their feet, had led to serious investigations, pointing out the 

 aim and end of the functions thus developed, and shewing their adaptations to 

 the great objects of their Creator. The aigrette, for instance, in the modifications 

 of the greater number of Owls, and the disk of the eye, are peculiarities assigned 

 to them to direct them in their nocturnal researches for their prey. — He then 



vol. in. — NO. XVI. F 



