32 THE BEAK. 



livelihood; and accordingly it is found, that throughout 

 the whole beak, and more especially at its extremities, 

 there is a fine nervous tissue which renders it as sensible 

 as the tongue for the taste, or the fingers for the touch 

 and the nose for smelling. 



There is a Duck closely 

 allied to our Shovelers, whose 

 beak has a curious addition 

 certain flaps or loose projec- 

 tions of which the annexed 

 figure will give a better idea 

 than any description. It is 

 found in Australia, but its 

 habits are little known. 



In the Goosander, which in 



New Holland Shoveler*. ,, L , 



other respects partakes much 



of the nature of Ducks, these rows of tooth-like lines 

 are harder, and very much resemble the teeth of a saw, 

 extending along the edge of the beak; thus enabling it 

 to secure even eels and fish, of which it destroys great 

 numbers, and which would, but for this addition, make 

 their escape and slip away from a surface unprovided 

 with means of holding them fast. The bill of the Rhyn- 

 chops or Skimmer, which collects its food floating on 

 the surface of the waves as it swims across the ocean, is 

 another very curious instance of contrivance. In most 

 species it will be observed, that the upper part of the 

 beak is larger, and covers the lower part, but in this 

 bird the contrary takes place; for the lower jaw or 

 mandible of the beak is much larger than the upper, so 

 that the bird can use it as a sort of spoon, dipping it 

 into the water, and thus scooping up small fishes, or 

 other light floating particles on which it feeds. How 

 different in its form is the beak of this bird from those 

 of the Swallow and Goat-sucker tribe, which, feeding on 

 the wing, adopt a somewhat similar course in catching 

 the various flying insects on which they live. In their 



* Anas Melanorhynchos. 



