TASTE. 



* 89 



is probable, that this long 1 tongue has greater strength 

 than the thin hollow beak that contains it ; and that 

 the beak is only a kind of sheath for this peculiar 

 instrument, used by the toucan in obtaining its pro- 

 vision*. 7 ' 



The tongue of the woodpecker is usually said to 

 be extremely long ; but this, according to Blumen- 

 bach, is not quite correct, the part which corresponds 

 to the tongue in other birds being remarkably short, 

 and merely a sharp-pointed horny portion, with its sides 

 barbed. " Behind this," he adds, " there is a very 

 singular hyoid bone, of a very slender aspect, with 

 very long pillars (cn/ra), consisting of five gristly 

 portions composed of a single piece and two pairs. 

 In the quiescent state of the organ, the former lies in 

 a fleshy and very extensile sheath of the bill. The 

 first pair of cartilages is articulated with this, and 



Apparatus for protruding and withdrawing the Woodpecker's tongue. 

 a, The barbed tongue, protruded to its natural length. &, One of a 

 pair of riband-shaped muscles, which arise together from the base of the 

 upper mandible, and, separating on the forehead, diverge, and pass back- 

 ward, over and round the head, and returning forwards, beneath it, are 

 inserted into the lower mandible. c, One of a pair of stiff cartilaginous 

 straps, which are enclosed in a sheath with the muscles, &, and accompa- 

 nying them in their whole course, are inserted by a small bone into the 

 root of the tongue. From this structure it is evident, that when the 

 mascles, b, contract, the cartilaginous straps being confined with them, 

 and not being able to shorten their length, must push the tongue forwards, 

 and when the muscles relax, draw it back again. 



* Bingley, Anim. Biogr. ii. 234. 



