Caprimulgus europe us, or Fern Owl. 33 
by a simultaneous bend of the head, but I never could dis- 
cover the ‘* delivery of somewhat into its mouth.” Besides, i 
occurs to me, if such were the fact, a two-fold action of the lee 
would become necessary; one when it is first struck out to 
seize the insect, and another to convey it into the mouth; and 
in such case, there would be one such motion of the leg un- 
accompanied by the bend of the head: but we shall always 
find that, whenever the leg is so put out, the head is at the 
same instant bent towards it; they move together, and the 
manoeuvre is quickly performed. 
Very different from this is the purpose wherein I consider 
its chief use consists, which is simply to comb or dress out the 
vibrissee (vebro, to shake or move nimbly; bristles). For 
this employment (and, in my opinion, it is no mean one in 
the economy of this bird) the entire mechanism of the leg, 
foot, toe, and claw, is adapted with a wonderful precision ; 
but, for the other purpose, there does not appear the least 
suitability whatever. Even the direction in which the claw 
is bent peculiarly unfits it for an instrument to seize with ; 
while it expressly is the very thing that fits it for a comb: 
and that the bird needs such an “instrument, will scarcely 
be disputed; for it is easy to imagine how, in various ways, 
the vibrissze may get bent, or clotted together at their points, 
so as to interfere with the regular muscular action at their 
bases. Moreover, these vibrissee form no very unessential 
part of the apparatus which is unquestionably formed for the 
express purpose of capturing food, the mouth: the bird is seen 
to exercise it for that purpose, he hawks about with its spacious 
cavity wide exposed, and can with much more ease extend it 
in any required direction farther than his leg would reach to. 
Examine the bird, and you will instantly pronounce the mouth 
complete for this ‘ond: the bird needs no additional help, he 
cannot have a better, and least of all does his foot supply it. 
Lest it might be thought of me that I am presuming too far, 
because in this matter it is ver y difficult to decide from ob- 
servation, as the motions of the bird are so quick, and the 
light unfavourable by reason of the hour of the evening, and 
the shade of the trees generally, I think I have seen the bird 
several times use his foot as I have described; I am almost 
sure my eyes cannot have deceived me. 
I begin to perceive that I shall be trespassing upon your 
limits, but, I hope, neither in an uninstructive nor unentertain- 
ing manner, and will reserve my further observations for some 
future occasion, if I am not considered a troublesome and 
unprofitable correspondent. I am, Sir, &c. 
Wrexham, Nov. 17. 1828. Barto, Ditton. 
Vou, IT. — No. 11. D 
