34 
PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
commented on the peculiar features of the Toucan and Nightjar groups, and 
pointed out the great analogy that existed between raptorial birds and car¬ 
nivorous quadrupeds. The Vulture preys by its scent, and is furnished with a 
fleshy caruncle, which is subservient to its sense of smell. The Falcon secures 
its prey by sight, and this organ of vision is accordantly powerful; the Owl by 
hearing, and that bird is equally remarkable for the complicated structure of its 
ear, to which the aigrette is designed to collect and confine the sound.—The 
Canine and Feline race of quadrupeds, Mr. Vigors remarked, also possessed 
similar faculties by which they secured their prey.-—The next analogy alluded to 
was that between the bills of the Snipes and Toucans, the former using it for 
probing the soft mud, and the latter likewise employing it for probing, but in a 
different manner.—The majority of birds which were cohabitants with the 
Toucans in the South American forests had elongated pensile nests, suspended 
from the extreme branches of trees, beyond the reach of Snakes and Monkeys. 
Nature had, however, appointed the Toucans to regulate their number, by pro¬ 
viding them with a bill beautifully adapted for the purpose of inserting in those 
nests, and dragging forth the eggs or callow young.—Mr. Vigors then adverted 
at some length to Mr. Blyth’s observations on the pectinated claws of birds, and 
concluded with a eulogium on that gentlemans valuable information, more 
particularly as regarded the connection between the eye-lashes and rostral 
protuberance of the Hornbills and the Crotophagce , and requested Mr. Macleay 
to communicate his own personal observation on the latter. 
Mr. Macleay then rose and remarked it would be presumption in him, after 
the interesting discussion which had taken place, to add any observations.—From 
his long residence in the West Indies, he had frequent opportunities of studying 
the habits of Ani. It is a bird extremely sensitive of cold, and does not live in 
captivity, even in that climate, unless kept by a fire ; they usually congregated 
in considerable numbers, like the Tit, and thus obtained additional warmth. On 
dissecting the bird and closely examining the stomach, he found it contained a 
portion of animal food. He considered the eye-lashes protected the sight (in the 
manner stated by Mr. Blyth) when passing through the briars. He then called 
attention to a highly interesting fact, which he had lately discovered, and which 
furnished an exclusive definition to the great order of Insessores , or Perching birds, 
allowed on all hands to be a natural group, but which had hitherto baffled the 
ingenuity of naturalists to define satisfactorily. The character to which Mr. 
Macleay had alluded was one common and peculiar to the Insessorial order, viz. 
—that their young are hatched naked or callow. 
Mr. Blyth again rose, and stated that the same character had also occurred 
to him, as Mr. Yarrell and many other naturalists were aware, but he pointed 
out certain exceptions to exist, as the Caprimulgidce. on the one hand, among 
