OF SELBORNE 77 



what of a peculiar structure that I did not understand perfectly ; 

 but refer it to the observation of the curious anatomist. These 

 creatures sent forth a very rancid and offensive smell. 



LETTER XXXVII. 



TO THE SAME. 



Selborne, 1771. 

 DEAR SIR, 



ON the twelfth of July I had a fair opportunity of contemplating 

 the motions of the caprimulgus, or fern-owl, as it was playing 

 round a large oak that swarmed with scarabcei solstitiales, or fern- 

 chafers. The powers of it's wing were wonderful, exceeding, 

 if possible, the various evolutions and quick turns of the swallow 

 genus. But the circumstance that pleased me most was, that 

 I saw it distinctly, more than once, put out it's short leg while 

 on the wing, and, by a bend of the head, deliver somewhat into 

 its mouth. If it takes any part of its prey with its foot, as I have 

 now the greatest reason to suppose it does these chafers, I no 

 longer wonder at the use of it's middle toe, which is curiously 

 furnished with a serrated claw. 1 



Swallows and martins, the bulk of them I mean, have forsaken 

 us sooner this year than usual ; for, on September the twenty- 

 second, they rendezvoused in a neighbour's walnut-tree, where 

 it seemed probable they had taken up their lodging for the 

 night. At the dawn of the day, which was foggy, they arose 

 all together in infinite numbers, occasioning such a rushing from 

 the strokes of their wings against the hazy air, as might be heard 

 to a considerable distance : since that no flock has appeared, 

 only a few stragglers. 



Some swifts staid late, till the twenty-second of August a 



1 [The use of this claw, serrated (i.e., toothed) on the inner side, has never yet 

 been determined. A good account of the explanations advanced will be found in 

 Mr. Harting's Summer Migrants, p. 215 f. White's observation may certainly 

 indicate one use to which the claw is put, and this is not invalidated by the fact 

 that other birds, which do not take their food on the wing, e.g., the stone curlew, 

 also have the middle claw more or less serrated. The position of the serration, 

 and the fact that in some birds the teeth have been found crammed with insects 

 which infest the plumage, suggests that the claw may in some cases be used as a 

 comb. But see Coues' Field and General Ornithology, p. 196.] 



