84 NUTRITION. 



the polyp has flexible arms (Fig. 77), capable of great exten- 

 sion, which instantly embrace any minute ani- 

 mal that comes in contact with them. The 

 cuttle-fish also, has similar arms about the 

 mouth, furnished with ranges of suckers, by 

 which it secures its prey (Fig. 47). 



224. Some are provided with instruments 

 for extracting food from places which would 



be otherwise inaccessible. Some of the Fig. 77. 

 mollusks, with their rasp-like tongue (Fig. 58), perforate 

 the shells of other animals, and thus reach and extract 

 the inhabitant. Insects have various piercers, suckers, or a 

 protractile tongue for the same purpose (Figs. 61-64). 

 Many of the Annelides, the leeches for example, have a 

 sucker, which enables them to produce a vacuum, and 

 thereby draw out blood from the perforations they make. 

 Many microscopic animals are provided with hairs or cilia 

 around the mouth (Fig. 65), which by their incessant 

 motion produce currents that bring within reach the 

 still more minute creatures or particles on which they 

 feed. 



225. Among the Vertebrata, the herbivora generally 

 employ their lips or their tongue, or both together, for seiz- 

 ing the grass or leaves they feed upon. The carnivora 

 use their jaws, teeth, and especially their claws, which 

 are long, sharp and movable, and admirably adapted for 

 the purpose. The woodpeckers have long, bony tongues, 

 barbed at the tip, with which they draw out insects from 

 deep holes and crevices. Some reptiles also use their 

 tongue to take their prey. Thus, the chameleon obtains 

 flies at a distance of three or four inches, by darting out 

 his tongue, the enlarged end of which is covered with a 

 glutinous substance to which they adhere. The elephant, 

 whose tusks and short neck prevent him from bringing his 



