I I 2 Lucas on the Tongues of Birds. [a% 



there seems to be no call for any special adaptation, is that shown 

 by the Swifts and Swallows. Structurally these birds are very 

 dissimilar 1 ; the pterylosis, skeleton, muscles and digestive tract 

 of each group has its own distinctive features, and yet their 

 tongues are almost identical, as a glance at the figures (p. 114), 

 where the tongues speak for themselves, will show. More than 

 this, the only Trogon's tongue I have examined is also much like 

 that of the Swallows,- and those of Sayornis and Ampelis are not 

 far removed, so that were birds classified by their tongues all these 

 would be placed near one another. Surely the similarity of all 

 these can scarcely be due to kinship. 



On the other hand, the species of the genus Melospiza 

 exhibit very considerable differences in their tongues, that of 

 Lincoln's Sparrow being perfectly plain and that of the Song 

 Sparrow the most elaborately fimbriated I have yet met with 

 among thick-tongued birds. The tongue of the Swamp Sparrow 

 is intermediate between the two, though most resembling that of 

 the Song Sparrow. Two specimens of Melospiza georgiana are 

 shown, the simpler being from a fresh specimen with a much 

 worn tongue, the other from an alcoholic with a very perfect 

 tongue, and the difference between them is striking, though 

 probably entirely due to wear. I hardly venture the suggestion 

 that the covering of the tongue is regularly moulted, although 

 such may be the case, but it is certainly subject to great 

 changes caused by use. The Woodpeckers have been treated 

 at some length elsewhere, and it is only necessary to repeat that 

 among them the relation between food and tongue seems obvious. 



1 1 do not know whether or not Dr. Sharpe is quite serious when he ex- 

 presses a wish that some competent anatomist would point out the differences 

 between the Swifts and Swallows, but although I might hesitate to call myself 

 a " competent anatomist," I can readily point out these differences, and would 

 do so most willingly. 



2 It would be unfair not to point out that there is a decided difference 

 between the tongue of Priotelus and that of the others figured. What may 

 be called the primary lateral barbs of Priotelus are single, while in the other 

 birds they are double ; moreover, in Priotelus the primary barbs are overlaid by 

 a second series of smaller barbs, while in the Swifts and Swallows all barbs 

 start from the same level. 



