122 



The Bird 



similar to this and is well vrorth examining. The use of 

 such a complicated organ in a bird of so sim.ple feeding 

 habits as the duck is hard to explain. 



We will hardl}' find two tongues that are alike, and 

 even the tips differ, and show as wide a range of varia- 



Figs. 03 and 94. — Top and side views of the tongue of a jMallard Duck, showing 

 complicated structure in the tongue of a bird which sifts its food from the mud. 



tion as the remaining portions. In mam^ birds, such as 

 owls, larks, and swifts, the tip is bifid, or double-pointed, 

 bringing to mind the forked tongues of snakes and cer- 

 tain lizards. In woodpeckers the tongue is round and 

 exceedingly long, and can usually be thrown out some 

 distance beyond the tip of the bill. 



Our common Flicker, or Golden-winged Woodpecker, 



