264 THE EEASON WHY. 



" Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and everything that moveth 

 therein." PSALM LXIX. 



1045. Why Jias the spoon-bill a long expanded bill, lined 

 internally with sharp muscular points ? 



Because the bird lives by suction, dipping its broad bill in search 

 of acquatic worms, mollusks, insects and the roots of weeds. The 

 bill form? a natural spoon, and the muscular points enable the 

 bird to filter the mud, and to retain the nourishment which it finds. 



1016. Why has the spoon-bill long legs? 



Because it wades in marshy places to find its food. Its legs 

 are therefore long, for the purpose of keeping its body out of the 

 water, and above the smaller acquatic plants, while it searches for 

 its prey. 



1017. Why have the parrots, fyc., crooked and hard bills ? 



Because they live upon nuts, the stones of fruit, and hard seeds. 

 The shape of the bill, therefore, enables them to hold the nut or 

 seed firmly, and the sharp point enables them to split or remove 

 the husks. 



1048. Why can a parrot move its upper as well as its 

 lower lill? 



Because by that means it is enabled to bring the nut or seed 

 nearer the fulcrum, or joint of the jaw. It, therefore, acquires 

 greater power, just as with a pair of nut-crackers we obtain 

 increased power by setting the nut near to the joint. 



1049. Why have animals with long necks large throats ? 

 Animals that graze, or feed from the ground, generally have a 



more powerful muscular formation of the throat than those which 

 feed in other positions, because a greater effort is required to force 

 the food upward, that would be needed to convey it down. 



1050. Why are the bones of birds hollow ? 



Because they are thereby rendered lighter, and do not interfere 

 with the flight of the bird as they would do if they were solid. 

 Greater strength is also obtained by the cylindrical form of the 

 "botw, and a larger surface afforded for the attachment of powerful 

 m uscles. 



