July 31, 1773

Posted by sydney on Jul 31st, 1773

The lightening beat down a chimney on the Barnet: no person was hurt.  Measles still about.

* Thro’ this month the Caprimulgi are busy every evening in catching the solstitial chafers which abound on chalky soils on the tops of hills.  These birds certainly do, as I suspected last year, take these insects with their feet, & pick them to pieces as they flie along, & so pouch them for their young.  Any person that has a quick eye may see them bend their heads downwards, & push out their short feet forwards as they pull their prey to pieces.  The chafer may also be discerned in their claws.  The serrated claw threfore on their longest toe is no doubt for the purpose of holding their prey.  This is the only insectivorous bird that I know which takes it’s prety flying with it’s feet.

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