100 THE VITAL FUNCTIONS. 



and the two cartilages it contains, which arc now more 

 closely conjoined, are deflected towards the right side, and 

 terminate at the edge of the aperture of the right nostril (r,) 

 into which the united cartilages arc finally inserted. In 

 order that their course may be seen more distinctly, these 

 cartilages are represented in the figure (at d,) drawn out of 

 the croove ])rovided to receive and protect them.'* A long 

 and slender muscle is attached to the inner margin of each 

 of these cartilages, and their actions conspire to raise the 

 lower and most bent parts of the cartilages, so that their 

 curvature is diminished, and the tongue protruded to a con- 

 siderable distance, for the purpose of catching insects. As 

 soon as this has been accomplished, these muscles being 

 suddenly relaxed, another set of fibres, passing in front of 

 the anterior portion of the cartilages nearly parallel to them, 

 are thrown into action, and as suddenly retract the tongue 

 into the mouth, with the insect adhering to its barbed ex- 

 tremity. This muscular effort is, however, very materially 

 assisted by the long and tortuous course of these arched 

 cartilages, which are nearly as elastic as steel springs, and 

 effect a considerable saving of m.uscular power.t This was 

 the more necessary, because, while the bird is on the tree, 

 it repeats these motions almost incessantly, boring holes in 

 the bark, and picking up the minutest insects, witli the ut- 

 most celerity and precision. On meeting w^th an ant-hill, 

 the woodpecker easily lays it open by the combined efforts 

 of its feet and bill, and soon makes a plentiful meal of the 

 ants and their eggs. 



Among the Mamm.alia w-hich have no teeth, the Myrme- 

 cophuf^a, or Ant-eater, practises a remarkable manoeuvre 

 for catching its prey. The tongue of this animal is very 

 long and slender, and has a great resemblance to an earth- 

 worm: tliat of the two-toed ant-eater is very nearly one- 

 third of the length of the whole body; and at its base is 



• S Is the hrge salivary gland on the right side. 



f An account of this mechanism is given by Mr. Waller, in the PhiL 

 Trans, for 1716, p. 509. 



