32 Qaprimulgus europcE\is, or Fern Owl. 



" Travellers and Peasantry in the Kingdom of Oude," facing 

 p. 341. vol. i.) 



It will now appear sufficiently obvious, that the particular 

 posture of the bird has reference to his immediate convenience, 

 and, in fact, that it is the natural and only comfortable one in 

 which the bird could remain in such a situation, by reason 

 of the foot being so adapted by an express provision in its 

 structure. 



Of the three anterior toes, the middle one is the longest, 

 and, in comparison with the others, ve7y long, say dispropor- 

 tionately so. The middle toe is also provided with a claw 

 differing from all the rest ; it is somewhat flat, slightly curvi- 

 linear outwards, and serrated on the concave edge, something 

 like a sickle placed flatways with its point outwards. In the 

 introduction to Bewick's British Birds, edit. 6. p. xxxvii., 

 there is a figure of the right foot, which is quite correct in 

 every particular, except the serrated claw, and that is repre- 

 sented as bending downwards like the other claws. Here the 

 lateral toe is very intelligibly shown. 



I consider the foregoing remarks in a great degree neces- 

 sary to enable us to conduct the remaining enquiry with clear- 

 ness and advantage. And now, what is the use of the middle 

 claw? 



- Mr. White says, there is no bird whose manners he had 

 studied more, than those of the Caprimulgus ; and on the 12th 

 of July, 1771, he had a fair opportunity of contemplating the 

 motions of one as it was playing (or, as I suspect, hawking) 

 round a large oak that swarmed with ^Scarabag^i solstitiales, or 

 fern chafers. He continues : " The powers of its wing were 

 wonderful, exceeding, if possible, the various evolutions and 

 quick turns of the swallow genus." But the circumstance that 

 pleased him most was, that he saw it distinctly, more than 

 once, put out its short leg while on the wing, and, by a bend 

 of the head, deliver somewhat into its mouth. " If it take any 

 part of its prey with its foot," says he, " as I have now the 

 greatest reason to suppose it does these chafers, I no longer 

 wonder at the use of its middle toe, which is curiously fur- 

 nished with a serrated claw." Then the leg, foot, and claw, 

 Mr. White supposes, were designedly constructed to assist the 

 bird in the capture of its insect food. But it is worthy of 

 remark, he only supposes this; he did not observe the act. It 

 is the more important to bear this distinction along with us, as 

 he was a most acute observer, and faithful narrator of facts ; 

 and, indeed, never more so than in the present instance. His 

 description of the particular action of the bird is incontro- 

 vertibly true ; the putting out of the leg is always accompanied 



