THE NIGHTJAR. 215 



refers to it as "the Caprimulgus, or Fern-owl," 

 and gives an agreeable account of its move- 

 ments as observed by himself. 



Amongst other things he says : — " But the cir- 

 cumstance that pleased me most was, that I 

 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 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." 



Yarrell has figured the foot, in a vignette to 

 his work on British Birds, in order to show this 

 peculiarity of structure, the use of which has 

 puzzled so many. 



The correctness of the view expressed by 

 Gilbert White and confirmed by other authors,^ 

 has been disputed on the ground that many 

 other birds, as Herons, Gannets, and, I may 



^ See Atkinson's "Compendium of Ornithology," p. 108, 

 and Stanley's " Familiar History of Birds," p. 260. 



