8 OUR HUMBLE HELPERS 



it fast. Finally, I will remind you of the granivor- 

 ous birds the sparrow, linnet, greenfinch, chaffinch, 

 and many others. All these birds, whose chief food 

 consists of grain, have the beak short, thick, pointed ; 

 adapted, in fact, to the picking up of seeds from the 

 ground, freeing them from their husks, and breaking 

 their shells to obtain the kernel. By virtue of its 

 strong mandibles, the beak of the hen belongs to this 

 last category, although at the same time its rather 

 long, sharp, and slightly hooked extremity indicates 

 carnivorous tastes. Such a beak calls not only for 

 seeds, but also for small prey, such as insects and 

 worms. " 



