Night-jar. 31S 



gradually we have been conducted from the strong stout limbs of 

 the more typical Perchers, through the Creepers, Wrens, and 

 Cuckoos, whose habits require no great powers of perching and 

 grasping, down to the Swallows, the almost footless Swift, and the 

 Nightjar with very diminutive and disproportionate feet and legs; 

 exemplifying once more what I have several times called atten- 

 tion to, the easy gentle transition from one Order and Family to 

 another, after the manner in which Nature loves to harmonize 

 her works ; so that now we are prepared to pass from the 

 Perchers to the Ground-birds (Easores) whose life is passed more 

 on the ground than amongst the branches, and who therefore 

 need a very different formation of feet from those we have lately 

 been considering. 



