Capjim^gus europa\s, o)- Fern Owl. S3 



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 leg 

 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 

 vibrissse {vibro, 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 vibrissae may get bent, or clotted together at their points, 

 so as to interfere with the regular muscular action at their 

 bases. Moreover, these vibrissae 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 end ; 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 very 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 unentertam- 

 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. Barthol. Dillon, 



Vol.111. — No. 11. d . 



