CLEANLINESS. 



19 



this bird (chuck-will's-widow) has on each foot ; but, 

 reader, this remains one of the many desiderata in 

 ornithology, and I fear, with me at least, it will con- 

 tinue so *." Yet, while we do not pretend to be able 

 to decide the question, we think Wilson's account the 

 most plausible. The recorded fact, which he actually 

 observed, cannot surely be overturned by the general 

 remark that it is preposterous to suppose these birds 

 furnished with a peculiar instrument which would be 

 no less useful to all birds. In answer to this, we are 

 entitled, by parity of reasoning, to say that it is equally 

 preposterous, according to the other explanation, to 

 suppose the serrated claw confined to the night-jars, as 

 other birds which feed upon chafers, the kestril (Falco 

 tinnunculus, RAY-)-), for example, are not furnished 

 with any thing of the kind. After all, the serratures 

 may be intended for none of these purposes, but for 

 enabling the bird to hold more firmly when it alights 



Podargus Auritus. 

 * Ornithological Biography, p. 276. 



t Selby, p. 44. 



