The Food of Birds 153 



old birds and the more advanced young following the 

 locusts." 



Slugs and snails are eaten by thrushes and many other 

 small birds with avidity, and the name "Snail-hawk" 

 has been given on account of one bird's fondness for these 

 mollusks. The Oyster-catcher feeds on clams and oysters 

 and derives its name from the facility with which it in- 

 serts its bill and pries open the shells. The Courlan, 

 a near relative of the rails, feeds on clams and mussels 

 and has a most ingenious method of obtaining its food. 

 In shallow water it feels about w^ith its feet for these 

 mollusks, and when they are found the bird inserts its 

 bill between the valves with a sudden quick stroke, and, 

 thus suspended, the heavy shell and its occupant are 

 carried to the shore, where the shell is forced open and 

 the animal eaten. Crows treat shell-fish in the same 

 way that they do sea-urchins and crabs, carrying them 

 aloft and, after dropping them, descending to feed 

 on the nutritious flesh exposed by the shattered 

 shells. 



Squids, the "head-footed" leaders of the division of 

 mollusks, are eaten by penguins at least, and so numerous 

 and at times so conspicuous a feature of marine life are 

 they that probabl}^ many other birds also feed upon 

 them. Even deep-water snails and crabs are not safe, 

 as the sturd}' sea-ducks will sometimes dive to a depth 

 of one hundred and fifty feet to feed upon them. 



Fish count man}^ enemies among birds, which have 

 numerous ways of obtaining their victims from ocean or 

 lake. Some of these are so ingenious that they well 



