THE FERN-OWL. 253 



the bird is enabled thereby to keep a look-out forward, as well 

 on either side, through the thin bony membrane. At all events, 

 without this odd addition to great powers of vision, a skull more 

 than half filled up with eyesight must enable the possessor to 

 see more clearly in the dark than we can conceive possible. 



This bird has, moreover, another peculiarity adapted for the 

 capture of moths, namely, a kind of glutinous liquid which 

 exudes from the upper part of the bill, and is so adhesive that 

 small insects are retained by it, and it is thus enabled to im- 

 prison and swallow a number of them together ; and what is 

 still more singular, that, although swallowed, they still con- 

 tinue to exist a fact only lately, we believe, known, and dis- 

 covered accidentally by a person who, having one evening shot 

 a Goat-sucker, was surprised to see a moth come out of its 

 mouth and fly away ; and on opening the crop the next morn- 

 ing, it was found to contain several other moths, which had 

 lived all night in this strange prison, and, when released, ran 

 about the table fluttering their wings. 



In the last place, its foot is doubly fitted for grappling its 

 volatile game. We give it in the annexed figure of its natural 

 size, not much larger, it will 

 be seen, than that of a Spar- 

 row, though the bird in size 

 is little less than a Pigeon. 

 The hind claw is remarkably 

 small, but it is what is termed 

 reversible, that is, it can turn Goat-sucker's Foot, 



forwards and act in concert with the other three, which must 

 be very convenient in catching such nimble things as moths ; 

 but it has another peculiarity the middle claw, serrated or 

 toothed very much like the Heron's, and for the same pur- 

 pose, that of preventing the escape of quick and active prey. 

 That this peculiarity is intended for the purpose stated, may 

 be inferred from some of the largest species, in size almost 

 equal to a Raven, being without a serrated claw, and whose 

 food has been ascertained to consist of the fruit of the 

 palm. Another use has been also assigned to these toothed 

 claws that of enabling them to carry off their eggs, if dis- 



