HIS BEAK AND TONGUE Sf 
beak of a hawk shows that he catches live ani- 
mals to eat (Fig. 4). The long, narrow, sharp 
bill of a heron shows that he spears his prey, 
often under water. 
The sharp-pointed bill of a warbler is to pick 
tiny insects and eggs out of blos- 
soms, and from under leaves. The 
sharp-edged bill of a sparrow (Fig. rs 
5) is to break open the hard eee 
of seeds. 
The curious beak of a crossbill 
(Fig. 6) is to pick seeds out of pine 
cones. 
A duck’s wide beak, with a 
strainer at the edge, is to let water 
out while keeping food in. A 
spoon-shaped bill is to scoop up food, and a thin, 
flat one is to poke into narrow cracks. 
Both parts of the beak, which take the place 
of our jaws, are called mandibles, upper and 
lower. Both of them can be moved, while we 
can move only our lower jaw. 
Birds’ tongues are as curious as their beaks. 
To all birds they take the place of a finger, as 
the beak takes the place of a hand, and they 
differ as much as the beaks from each other. 
Insect eggs are very small, and often packed 
snugly into cracks and corners, and the birds 
Fig. 5. 
Bill of Sparrow. 

Fig. 6. 
Bill of Crossbill. 
