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THE EDINBURGH JOURNAL OF NATURAL HISTORY, 



The substances which 1 have found in the stomach of this bird were remains of 

 coleopterous insects of many species, lepidoptera, and sometimes larvs. I have seen 

 the inner surface slightly bristled with the hairs of Caterpillars, as in the Cuckoo. 

 Towards evening the Goatsucker may be seen skimming along the edges of woods 

 with a light and buoyant flight, winding in varied curves, in the manner of a Swallow, 

 but with less velocity, and by its noiseless motions also reminding the observer of the 

 Owls. As it proceeds, it now and then emits a shrill squeaking cry. It is seldom 

 that more than one or two individuals are seen at a time ; but Montagu remarks that 

 he observed " in Scotland eight or ten on wing together in the dusk of the evening, 

 skimming over the surface of the ground in all directions, like the Swallow, in pur- 

 suit of insects." 



During the day it generally rests on the ground, among furze or fern, or on the 

 branch or bough of a tree, on which it reposes in a direction parallel to its axis. 

 This arises from the disposition of the toes, which is such, that it cannot securely 

 grasp a branch in the ordinary way. When disturbed while on the ground, it flies 

 off with a wavering buoyant flight, and generally alights on a tree, if there be one in 

 the neighbourhood. 



The eggs, which are two in number, broadly elliptical^ whitish and clouded with 

 ash-grey and brown, are deposited on the bare ground, among furze, heath, or fern. 

 The young are densely covered with long whitish down. During the breeding 

 season, according to Montagu, *' it makes a singular noise, like the sound of a 

 large spinning wheel, and which it is observed to utter perched, with the head 

 lowermost. ' 



The serrature of the middle claw of this and the other species has elicited various 

 conjectures as to the use of so curious a structure. Several persons have supposed 

 or imao-ined it to be for the purpose of enabling the bird to clear away from between 

 the bristles that fringe its mouth, the fragments of wings or other parts of lepidopter- 

 ous insects, which, by adhering, have clogged them. This at first sight seems a re- 

 markably plausible account of the matter, but a very little reflection, with a slight 

 inspection of the parts, will suffice to show its futility. The bristles are large, strong, 

 and placed at some distance from each other. The teeth of the claw are extremely 

 thin, and very close, being separated only by mere chinks. The claw then cannot 

 act as a comb, because one of the bristles is as broad at the base as two or three of 

 the teeth, so that it cannot enter between them ; and although it tapers away toward 

 the end, yet even there it is too wide to be insinuated. But, although the claw may 

 not act as a comb, it may be said that its serrated edge will more readily than a con- 

 tinuous edge catch hold of any thing stuck between the bristles. This is likely 

 enough ; but then the species of the genus Podargus or strong-billed Goatsuckers 

 have similar bristles, but are destitute of clefts on the claw. Gannets, Herons, and 

 other birds, that have no bristles, have yet a serrated claw. Therefore, the serrature 

 is not intended for the purpose of clearing the bristles. Yet it may be quite true that 

 the Goatsucker uses its claw to produce that effect; but it is not less true that Par- 

 rots, Finches, and other birds, having no such serratui-e, employ their claws for 

 scratching the parts about the head. And so another reason must be sought for. 



The young Goatsucker has at first no serrature on its claw, any more than the 

 young Gannet. One fully fledged, and shot about the end of September, now be- 

 fore me, has the toe scarcely half the length of that of an old bird, and with only five 

 teeth, the old bird having ten. The chinks in the young bird's claw are less deep 

 than those in that of the old bird. A young fledged Gannet shews the same circum- 

 stance. All birds whose middle claw is serrated, have that claw elongated, and fur- 

 nished with a very thin edge. It therefore appears that the serration is produced by 

 the sphtting of the edge of the claw, after the bird has used it, but whether in con- 

 sequence of the pressure caused by standing or grasping can only be conjectured. 



The Flycatchers, and other birds of the same family, which have strong bristles, 

 intended for the same use, have not serrated claws ; yet if their bristles become clog- 

 ged, they no doubt will clean them in the same manner. 



It appears that the use of the serratures is not that of clearing the bristles of the 

 scales of lepidopterous insects, because fish eating birds without any bristles have 

 similar serratures ; but there is no reason for doubting that Goatsuckers brush away 

 adherent matter with their claws, just as other birds do, the domestic fowl, for ex- 

 ample. 



Another supposition is, that the serrature enables the Goatsucker to hold more se- 

 curely a large insect which it has caught with its foot. And observers have stated 

 that they have been pretty sure of having seen that bird, when flying, raise its foot to 

 its mouth, as if, in the manner of a Parrot, to carry to it an insect. It may be so ; 

 but as yet no one has quite satisfactorily seen a Goatsucker catch a moth or a beetle 

 with its foot ; and this cannot be the use of the serrature. for the Gannet and Heron, 

 which do not seize their prey with their feet, have serrated claws. 



The notion of a bird's flying with open mouth, for the purpose of seizing its prey, 

 is preposterous. It has been alleged that Swifts and Swallows do so ; but I have 

 satisfactorily ascertained that they do not ; and there is no reason to suppose that 

 Goatsuckers are so awkward as to require to keep their jaws constantly wide open lest 

 their prey should escape them. 



But the most absurd notion of all is that expressed by Mr Selby as follows. " 'I'he 

 membrane that lines the inside of the mouth is very thin and transparent, particidarly 

 opposite to the posterior part of the eye, which organ is pretty clearly discernible 

 through the membrane. As the mouth opens to such great lateral extent, it has been 

 sxjggested that the bird may possibly be capable of turning the eye in its socket, so 

 far as to look through this almost transparent veil in a straightforward direction, when 

 the mouth is extended in its nocturnal flights. I have consequently directed my at- 

 tention to this point, hut as yet without any satisfactory result." Indeed, it was 

 unworthy of exercising the observation of so sagacious an ornithologist. How des- 

 perately imaginative must those persons be, who, not content with allowing a bird to 

 seize its prey like other birds, by opening its bill when it comes up to it, must repre- 

 sent it as flying about with its mouth wide open, and instead of u?ing its eyes as all 

 other birds use them, turning them round, to the imminent danger of separating- the 

 optic nerve, so as to spy moths and beetles through a window in the palate! 



OBSERVATIONS ON RABIES IN DOGS, OXEN, HORSES, PIGS, AND SHEEP, 

 BY DR WAGNER. 



The following is a condensed account of some important observations made by Dr 

 Wagner on the diseases commonly called Rabies or Madness in domestic animals. 



1. The Dog. — Dread of water is not always present, nor is the habit of gnawing 

 wood, straw, or hides, or snapping in the air, a sure symptom. An appearance of 

 dejection and shyness, drooping of the head and tail, flashing of the eye, foaming at 

 the mourh, refusal of food and drink, are suspicious, but not peculiar to the disease. 

 The only decisive indication of it is a dog's running about and recklessly attacking 

 men and animals, especially those of its own species. In a rabid state, some dogs 

 will even leap over high fences, in order to reach dogs or cats which they discover to 

 be on the other side, thus showing that smell, sight, and hearing, are still unimpaired. 

 Others will sneak along a wall, or run forward in a straight line, attempting to bite 

 whatever they meet with. Some again never move from one spot, but gnaw at every 

 thing within reach, snap at vacancy, and ultimately refuse food and drink, or if they 

 attempt to partake of either, appearing incapable of deglutition. In such cases, para- 

 lysis of the loins and posterior extremities appears to have taken place at the outset. 

 The moment a dog evinces any appearance of illness, he ought to be locked up, or 

 fastened to a strong chain. When it begins to gnaw wood, to show a dull eye, or 

 snap at animals, to bark hoarsely, to attempt to run away or break its chain, to eat 

 and drink in a snapping manner, to appear alternately lively and sulky^ to disregard its 

 master's call, to growl and snarl at well known persons, it ought to be killed, for no 

 doubt can remain of its being rabid. 



2. In Oxen. — The disease occurs in horned cattle in two distinct forms. In the 

 first, the animal loses its appetite, eats and drinks by fits only, appears at times as if 

 suddenly stupified, recedes from the manger, forgets to chew, then chews on, listens 

 keenly to any noise, notices every object, but continues to obey its keeper. Bor- 

 borygmi, however, are heard, and sometimes there is slight straining or disposition to 

 tenesmus. In the open air, the animal ceases to graze, seems as if lost, and strays 

 from the herd, but generally allows itself to be led back. The symptoms increase : 

 hunger and thirst are not experienced, the eyes flash at times, without seeming in- 

 flamed, the animal seldom lows, but when it does, either emits a hoarse noise or a 

 clear and strong cry. The borborygmi increase, the animal licks some parts of its 

 body, especially one of the feet, where probably it has been bitten, until it is exco- 

 riated and bleeds. Paralysis of the loins ensues, the animal remains lying, can only 

 rise with great difficulty, and totters on its hind-legs ; an increased straining is re- 

 marked, and is followed by hard but ultimately thin evacuations ; it moves its head 

 from side to side, licks at cloth or fur, which it by degrees gets between its teeth and 

 tears. The secretion of milk, which has been diminishing, now ceases. On the 

 sixth or seventh day, the animal is unable to stand, refuses food, being unable to 

 swallow ; the straining at the rectum continues ; but a dread of water is never ob- 

 served. Sometime between the sixth and ninth day, it sinks on one side, commonly 

 the left, the head stretched backwards, but the eye still lively and uninflamed. The 

 trunk continues motionless, but the legs are languidly agitated, until the animal dies. 

 In this form of the disease there is little danger in approaching the animal. The 

 other form commences in the same manner. In the stall, the animals recede still 

 more from the manger, and will try to break the rope with which they are fastened. 

 Their bellowing is not frequent, but prolonged, and its tone clear; they scratch the 

 ground with their fore-hoofs so violently as to throw the dung to the roof, and with 

 their hind-feet kick at any one who approaches. The paroxysms are periodical, and 

 in their intervals little is to be observed, except a reluctance to feed or drink. About 

 the fourth day they will snap every kind of fastening during the paroxysm, attack 

 and gore all who approach them, rage about in the stable, and gnaw the cribs and 

 other objects, until paralysis of the Umbs supervenes, when they fall, and ultimately lie on 

 one side. On the seventh, eighth, or at most the ninth day, they die. On dissection, 

 nothing unusual is to be discovered, excepting extreme distension of the gall-bladder. 



3. In Horses. — The symptoms are at first unwonted activity, kicking and biting 

 of their fellows, refusal of food and drink, frequent nodding or jerking of the head, 

 and a fiery eye. On the second or third day the symptoms have greatly increased in 

 degree, the animals become furious, and strive to bite and kick, so that it becomes 

 necessary to destroy them. 



4. In Pigs. — Only one instance occurred to the author. A fattening boar had 

 been bitten by a mad dog four days previously to his seeing it, but it already raged 

 with such violence that he could only observe it through the crevices of the stye. It 

 gnashed its teeth, leaped against the sides of the stye, and threatened by its violence to 

 burst through them. A butcher, who killed it with a hatchet, cut it up, contrary to 

 orders, and exposed it to sale, but no mischief resulted. 



5. In Sheep. — Five sheep, which were bitten by a mad dog, all became affected 

 after the lapse of a few weeks, left off grazing, and dispersed the flock by indiscri- 

 minate attempts to butt and mount upon their fellows. They were all killed save one, 

 which, being confined in a stall, kept quietly staring at the wall, but on hearing the 

 shghtest noise turned to the direction whence it proceeded, and jumped up against 

 the sides of the stall. It neither ate nor drank, but the proprietor declined to wait 

 the natural termination of the disease. 



Country people frequently hold fast the tongue of the rabid cattle with one hand, 

 while they thrust the other into the throat to endeavour to force nourishment into 

 the stomach ; yet, although the hands and arms could scarcely on all such occasions 

 he entirely free from injury, and the people neglected to wash their hands, the author 

 never witnessed any evil effects to result. However, he knew a farmer who died of 

 rabies merely from having washed out the wound inflicted on a pig by the bite of a 

 mad dog. He has frequently known the milk of rabid animals to be taken without 

 detriment ; and in two instances the flesh of rabid oxen, which was clandestinely eaten, 

 proved innoxious. But, at a period when many cattle perished of rabies, the instances 

 of canine madness became unusually numerous. He concludes with remai'king, that 

 having witnessed many instances where the bite of decidedly rabid animals has pro- 

 duced little or no effect upon the human subject, although the remedies employed 

 were merely such as were suggested by superstition, he infers that in the human 

 species a predisposition to hydrophobia rarely exists. 



