220 



A YEAR WITH NATURE. 



BEAK OF TOUCAN. 



the poor Fishing Hawk who has caught a fish for himself is 

 forced to drop it by this Eagle, who is watching operations 

 from aloft; and so soon as it has left the Hawk, the Eagle 

 pounces upon the fish and carries it off triumphantly in the 



beak which I have illustrated. It 

 is a formidable weapon, and he uses 

 it to much purpose. 



The illustration at the top of page 2 1 9 

 is not such a powerful beak as that of 

 the last-named, but for all that it is one 

 that is used with much precision. The 

 Lammergeyer I have one before me 

 from India as I write has neither 

 the bill nor the talons of the Eagle, 

 the former as will be seen from my 



sketch being elongated and hooked only at the tip, while the 

 latter are comparatively small ; yet this bird's beak serves it well 

 in the destruction it carries on among lambs, kids, and hares, 

 whilst even children have, it is said, often fallen sacrifices to 

 its rapacity. The Eagle bears off its prey ; the 

 Lammergeyer unless disturbed, or providing 

 for its young seldom attempts to remove 

 it, but devours it on the spot. 



The beak of the Dodo is, perhaps, the 

 most extraordinary one that I illustrate, but 

 it would not be so peculiarly attractive was 

 it not for the fact that the whole bird is 



most ungainly in every respect, and probably the most hideous- 

 looking creature with feathers that was ever created. Many 

 Scientists regret its extinction, and so do I, but methinks my 



lady readers will shudder at the 

 thought of such a bird, and will be 

 pleased to hear that it is no more. 

 The beak is somewhat after the style 

 of the Turkey, but a little more hooked. 

 The Dodo was in days gone by 

 called in the East Indies Walck-Vogel, 

 because the longer or more slowly it was cooked, the worse it was 

 for eating 1 



BEAK OF AVOCET. 



BEAK OF FLAMINGO. 



