CHAPTER OF VARIETIES. 



sharp serratures being admirably calculated for catching in the pjlished 

 limbs of beetles. He who has attempted confining Dylisci or Scarabei 

 in a collecting box, must be aware of the difficulty of getting their feet 

 free from the edge, to which they hold with extraordinary pertinacity, 

 one foot being no sooner pushed in than another is protruded. The 

 experiment of putting into a pill box the common dung beetle {Scar a- 

 beus Stercoraneus) probably an insect often devoured by our night jar 

 (Nyctichclidon Earopceus) and endeavouring to remove its feet from the 

 edge with a pectinated claw, will exemplify, I think, in a sufficient 

 manner to convince the most sceptical, both the necessity of such an in- 

 strument to birds swallowing entire insects of this kind, and its surpass- 

 ing efficiency for the use now ascribed to it. The kestril (Falco 

 tinnunculus) though feeding on beetles, does not require a pectinated 

 claw, as it devours them piece-meal. The opinion, that the instrument 

 is used as a cleanser from vermin, is not in accordance with the usual 

 distributions of providence, so many birds from their habits of nesting, 

 &c. having much greater need of a comb than those to whom it is sup- 

 plied. The idea, that its object is to enable its posssessor to perch more 

 firmly, is refuted by the fact that the bittern always alights on the 

 ground, and that the serrated edges of its claws never come in contact 

 with it. The view I have taken is, I think, supported by the observa- 

 tions of White and Dillon, who saw the night jar repeatedly put its 

 foot to its bill, as White conceived in the act of delivering prey into the 

 mouth, having previously taken it with its foot, though this seems quite 

 unfit for grasping. Dillon thought the movement was that of combing 

 the bristles (vibrissce) round the beak ; a position not tenable, consider- 

 ing the many birds furnished with pectinated claws that do not possess 

 bristles. I believe the act observed was that of disengaging the hooked 

 feet of the bird's prey from its bill, for the accomplishment of which I 

 conceive the pectinated claws were intended. If this be admitted it will 

 supply the desideratum alluded to by Audobon, and, I trust, observa- 

 tion will establish its truth, which may be ascertained by any person 

 who has a living specimen of one of the birds concerned, providing it 

 with a meal of beetles, easily procured on a fine evening. — R. B. 

 Dublin, lOih June, 1833. 



Scientific terms often objectionable. — In the study of 

 natural history, the use of scientific terms is justifiable; but in many 

 instances they are introduced unnecessarily. We like jointed just as 

 well as articulated, and see no need of such words as carinated, corne- 

 vol. i. — no. viii. (august, 1833.) D D 



