292 



ANIMAL STUDIES 



dents may be put in the 

 way of independent ob- 

 servation along an ex- 

 tremely interesting and 

 attractive line of zoolog- 

 ical study. 



255. Adaptations for 

 securing food. For the 

 purpose of capture of 

 their prey, some carniv- 

 orous animals are pro- 

 vided with strong claws, 

 sharp teeth, hooked 

 beaks, and other struc- 

 tures familiar to us in 

 the lion, tiger, dog, cat, 

 owl, and eagle. Insect- 

 eating mammals have 

 contrivances especially 



FIG. 158. Foot of the bald eagle, 

 showing claws for seizing its prey. 

 (CHAPMAN.) 



fe :: 



Fio. 157. The brown pelican, showing gular 

 sac, which it uses in catching and holding 

 fishes that form its food. 



adapted for the catching of insects. The 

 ant-eater, for example, has a 

 curious, long sticky tongue 

 which it thrusts forth from 

 its cylindrical snout deep 

 into the recesses of the ant- 

 hill, bringing it out with its 

 sticky surface covered with 

 ants. Animals which feed on 

 nuts are fitted with strong 

 teeth or beaks for crack- 

 ing them. Similar teeth are 

 found in those fishes which 

 feed on crabs, snails, or sea-ur- 

 chins. Those mammals like 

 the horse and cow, that 

 feed on plants, have usually 



