PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIKTIES. .Sl/l 



gall-tufts of the Heron and Bittern groups, a tuft of unelastic coU9ny 

 down, occupying their breast and flanks, the use of which, he be- 

 lieved, had never been explained, but which was sutBciently apparent 

 on a little observation of the habits of the group. A Heron, he 

 stated, might not uncommonly be seen standing, as far as the bare 

 part of its tibia would allow, in water, and it would often strike at a 

 passing fish at such a distance that none but those who had witnessed 

 it could form an adequate conception of; in doing which the body, 

 turning forward as upon a pivot, immersed the breast in water, 

 whence, were the part in question to be bare, as usual in the fea- 

 thered race, the water would, of course, come extremely cold upon 

 the bird's chest ; to prevent which Nature had bountifully provided 

 it with a structure perfectly impervious to moisture, an example of 

 which, taken from the breast of a Bittern, was handed round ; and 

 the lecturer remarked that beneath the skin were situate a number 

 of peculiar glands, secreting a powdery substance, which was plenti- 

 fully diffused over the plumage by merely -shaking it, but more es- 

 pecially on the cottony down, which covered the site of its formation ; 

 and it was remarked that on rubbing the hand in this down, and then 

 immersing it in water, the latter would roll off without wetting. The 

 pectinated claw formed the next subject, which was treated of at con- 

 siderable length, and shown, from actual observation, to be subservi- 

 ent to two purposes — one direct, the other, as it were, contingent, or 

 merely arising from the circumstance of its possession. The former 

 was the cleaning of the corners of the mouth (not vibrissae) from 

 Beetle claws or fish scales ; the latter the cleansing of the plumage, 

 to which the analogous but merely expanded and somewhat keen edge 

 of the same claw in numerous other birds was likewise employed in 

 effecting. The suggestion of Mr. Owen (in Cycl. Anat. Physiol.) 

 was noticed, supposing that the parasites of those species which were 

 furnished with pectinated claws might possibly possess superior 

 powers of adhesion to those which infest other species. This subject 

 was entered into at considerable detail, as involving a deeply interest- 

 ing inquiry respecting the mutual relations of the preyer and 

 the prey, the former of which were stated to be jjartictdar, the 

 latter general. If, remarked Mr. B., we take a comprehensive sur- 

 vey of both kingdoms of organised nature as they now exist, it is uu- 

 questionably true that the nectar of \\\e flower would appear to be 

 designed, not only to furnish food for insects (which is, of course, a 

 secondary and, as it were, contingent object), but primarily for the 

 purpose of attracting them to settle (to which the glare of the corol- 

 la, and perhaps perfumery likewise, seem subservient), that bv doino- 

 so, and traversing the blossom, they might unconsciously distribute 

 the fertilizing pollen over the stigma ; the benefit, in this instance, 

 being clearly reciprocal. To advance another grade ; certain other 

 flowers, which do not absolutely require the assistance specified (a^ 

 the Antirrhivum, or Snapdragon), have their blossoms closed against 

 such extraneous interference ; yet we perceive ihat Bees are, seem- 

 VOI,. VII., NO. XXII. - ss 



