PROCEEDINGS OP SOCIETIES. 317 



be less perfect than every analogy would lead us to pre-suppose, had 

 they not the means of guarding against such contingencies ; and as a 

 specimen of the sort of contingencies which were provided against, 

 he instanced the beautiful cleaning apparatus of the larvae of the 

 Glow'-worm, a creature that subsists on viscid slimy snails. 



With regard to Mr.Vigors's commentary on the use of the aigrettes 

 of the Owl family, which was precisely that bold sort of generaliza- 

 tion calculated to advance the science of Ornithology, Mr. B. was not 

 prepared to acquiesce in that naturalist's views, and proceeded to point 

 out some anomalies that led to the inference that aigrettes and ears 

 had no mutual relation. He stated that a specimen of the Scops 

 Owl, formerly in his possession, had the aigrettes extremely worn, 

 even to the shaft, which, of course, led to the supposition that they 

 were subservient to some use liable to rub them down. He did not, 

 however, at all comprehend what that use might be. He was not in 

 the least surprised that the often-repeated statement of the Ani set- 

 tling on the backs of quadrupeds was erroneous, as comparison of its 

 adaptive structure with that of of the Buphaga led to the same result. 

 But as these genera had been appropriated, he would mention one 

 particular wherein they agreed, which was the extreme rankness of 

 their flesh, sufficiently perceptible on rela"xing their preserved skins, 

 the aroma arising from which was not only equally disagreeable, but 

 exactly similar. Mr. B. subsequently remarked that Mr. Vigors 's 

 views of the purport of the caruncles of the Vultures, and also the 

 analogous one of Mr. Bell on the facial membrane of the Horseshoe 

 Bats, did not appear to him to be quite feasible, as he suspected that 

 the senses of smelling and tasting required in every instance a wet or 

 lubricated surface. He suggested this, however, with all deference 

 to the opinion of those naturalists who thought diflBrently. 



Mr. Vigors, M.P., having congratulated the Society on the great 

 accession of talent it had gained, alluded to the interesting obser- 

 vations which had been made by Mr. Blyth. He rejoiced that such 

 a Society had been formed, as it would doubtless lead to inquiries 

 highly interesting to ornithologists. Matters in themselves appa- 

 rently trifling, had conduced to the illustration of great and impor- 

 tant results. A hundred times he had found that a research after 

 minor characters which were calculated to escape the eye of com- 

 mon observation, carried out truths highly interesting. The clumj) 

 of feathers on the head of an Owl, the claw upon their feet, had led 

 to serious investigations, pointing out the aim and end of the func- 

 tions thus developed, and shewing their adaptations to the great 

 objects of their Creator. The aigrette for instance, in the modifica- 

 tion of the greater number of Owls, and the disk of the eye, are 

 peculiarities assigned to them to direct them in their nocturnal re- 

 searches for their prey. He then commented on the peculiar features 

 of the Toucan and Caprimulgus group, and pointed out the great 

 analo;!y that existed between raptorial birds and carnivorous qua- 

 drupeds. The Vulture preys by its scent, and is furnished with a 



