198 HISTORY OF 



killing and procuring this food, which cannot be 

 found in great plenty. This is round, ending in 

 a stiff, sharp, bony tip, dentated on both sides, 

 like the beard of ail arrow ; and this it can dart 

 out three or four inches from the bill, and draw 

 in again at pleasure. Its prey is thus" transfixed 

 and drawn into the bill, which, when swallowed, 

 the dart is again launched at fresh game. Nothing 

 has employed the attention of the curious in this 

 part of anatomy, more than the contrivance by 

 which the tongue of this bird performs its func- 

 tions with such great celerity. The tongue is 

 drawn back into the bill by the help of two small 

 round cartilages, fastened into the forementioned 

 bony tip, and running along the length of the 

 tongue. These cartilages, from the root of the 

 tongue, take a circuit beyond the ears, and being 

 reflected backwards to the crown of the head, make 

 a large bow. The muscular spongy flesh of the 

 tongue encloses these cartilages like a sheath, 

 and is so made that it may be extended or con- 

 tracted like a worm. The cartilages, indeed, 

 have muscles accompanying them along their 

 whole length backwards. But there is still ano- 

 ther contrivance ; for there is a broad muscle 

 joining the cartilages to the bones of the skull, 

 which, by contracting or dilating, forces the 

 cartilages forward through the tongue, and then 

 forces the tongue and all through the bill, to be 

 employed for the animal's preservation in pierc- 

 ing its prey. 



Such is the instrument with which this bird is 

 provided, and this the manner in which this in- 



