260 
THE FERN-OWL. 
In the last place, 
its foot is doubly fitted 
for grappling its vo- 
latile game. We give 
it in the annexed figure : 
of its natural size, not 1 
much larger, it will 
he seen, than that J 
of a Sparrow, though 
the bird in size is lit- 
tie less than a Pigeon. 
The hind claw is re- jj 
markably small, hut it 
is what is termed re- 
versible , that is, it can turn forwards, and act in concert 
with the other three, which must he very convenient in catch- ! 
ing such nimble things as moths ; hut it has another peculi- j: 
arity, — the middle claw serrated or toothed very much like the 
Heron’s, and for the same purpose, that of preventing the escape 
of quick and active prey. That this peculiarity is intended !i 
for the purpose stated, may he inferred from some of the 
largest species, in size almost equal to a Raven, being without a 
serrated claw, and whose food has been ascertained to consist 
of the fruit of the palm. Another use has been also assigned 1 
to these toothed-claws, — that of enabling them to carry off 
their eggs, if disturbed : some naturalists asserting that they 
have such a power, and have been actually seen in the act of 
flight with eggs in their claws ; hut the fact has been denied 
by others. That it is not impossible, however, even for 
birds, without such claws, to remove their eggs, we can 
vouch from good authority : for a Pheasant having laid her 
eggs in a fallow-field, 
became dissatisfied with 
her situation, and re- 
moved them to a less 
frequented spot in the 
same field, where she de- 
Goat-Sucker's Foot. posited them in another 
nest, which she had previously scraped together. 
