THE BIRDS OF BRECONSHIRE. /7I 
them, it has its middle toe furnished 
with a pectinated (not a serrated) claw. 
Anyone seeing this perfect little comb- 
like appendage cannot, I think, fail to 
come to the above conclusion concerning 
this claw, although some naturalists have 
advanced other theories. JI may state 
also that the heron (Ardea cinerea) has a 
serrated claw, used, no doubt, for the 
Same purpose in removing fish scales, 
The good that the Night-jar must do 
as an insect killer is incalculable, and, as 
such, it deserves the utmost protection. 
I omitted to state that some have sup- 
posed that it captures its prey with its 
claws, but in my opinion it does so on 
the wing, flying along with its open 
trap-like mouth, with which it takes the 
night moths and other insects; and this 
is, I think, now the generally accepted 
theory. 
Mr. H. Harries, of Brecon, when 
Grouse shooting near Crickhowell last 
year, found the egg of this bird in the 
heather on the 12th August. The Welsh 
is Zroellwr, a whirller, a most expressive 
name. 
