ON THE STRUCTURE OF THE TONGUE IN HUMMING BIRDS. 



BY 



Frederic A. Lucas. 



Assistant Curator of the Departinent of Comparative Anatomy. 

 (With Plate IV.) 



Although it is evident from Dr. Gadow'.s paper on the Suctorial Ap 

 paratus of Tenuiro.stres* that he is well acquainted with the structure 

 of the tongue of Humming Birds, he merely alluded to this group, and 

 as so much misinformation on this subject is current in ornithological 

 literature, it is hoped that the present paper may beof service in cor- 

 recting some of the many misstatements. 



The pai)er is based on the examination of the species noted below, 

 and it is probable that the type of tongue herein described will be 

 found to prevail throughout at least the greater portion of the Trochi- 

 li(1(e, and should exceptions exist, they will most likely be found in the 

 Pha'thoniithimc. 



Species examined : 



Lamjyoniis up. , Selasphorun rufus. 



Kulampis holoscricua. Stelliila calliope. 



FlorUiiya mellivora. DorUha evelyme. 



Mellisuija viinima. Lophornis sp. 



TrochihiH cohibris. RtUona esilis. 



Calypte atnio'. Chloroatilbon sp. 

 Selaaphoriis plaiyeercus. 



The tongue of Humming Birds, like that of such woodpeckers as 

 ColaptcH and Hylotomua. is extremely long, but there is little or no 

 8tru(;tural similarity between them. 



In Colapfes the tongue is not continued beyond the anterior end of 

 the short, fused, ceratohyals, and the basihyal is extromely long, while 

 in TrochUus the greater portion of the tongue consists of the cartilag- 

 inous sheath of the ceratohyals, and the basihyal is short. 



The reason for this difference is quite evident. The tongue of the 

 woodpecker is a barbed spear, which to be effective needs to be more 

 or less rigid. The tongue of the Humming Bird is used to entrap, not 

 to impale, insects, and for extra<;ting honey from liowers, and for these 

 purposes it does not need to be' especially stiff. 



•Proc. Zof)!. Soc. Lon.loii. 1S8.3, pp. 62-69, PI. xvi. 

 Proceedings National Museum, Vol. XIV— No. 848. 



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