354 Canadian Record of Science 



don, S. T. Freemantle, 1900), Letter 37 (Vol. I, p. 154), 

 recounts the feeding of a Nightjar upon Melolonthid 

 beetles which were swarming about a large oak. The 

 letter goes on : " But the circumstance that pleased me 

 most was that I saw it distinctly, more than once, put out 

 its short leg while on the wind, and, by a bend of the 

 head, deliver somewhat into its mouth. If it takes any 

 part of its prey with its foot, 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 

 furnished with a serrated claw." 



To this the editor (R. B. S.) adds the following foot- 

 note: "The use of the serrated claw in the nightjar has 

 been discussed by many ornithologists. It is not likely 

 that the foot has any seizing power, but as the bristles 

 which beset the bird's gape may become clogged with the 

 wings of the insects on which it feeds, it is possible that 

 White saw the bird in the act of cleaning its rictal 

 bristles by means of the comb on its claw. ' ' 



The development of identical or analogous structures 

 in adaptation to a common need on the part of dissimilar 

 organisms, whilst their nearer blood relations show no 

 trace of the modifications in question, is a phenomenon 

 of widespread occurrence, but its precise theoretical 

 significance is rather obscure. Adaptation itself is still 

 one of the great unsolved mysteries of organic life. 

 Montreal, March 20th, 1914. 



THE CRAFTY FOX. 



Away back in the early nineties, on a farm in the 

 County of Two Mountains, a fine specimen of a red fox 

 was seen one day leisurely crossing the hills. 



Having a little leisure time on my part, I took my 

 rifle out of its case, and strapped on a pair or snow-shoes, 

 and my foxhound was ready to accompany me without 

 further hint. 



