92 FACULTIES OF BIRDS. 



the quadrupeds called ant-eaters (Myrmtcophagrt, 

 LINN.). It is said of the latter that they station 

 themselves near an ant-hill, extend their long tongue 

 across a frequented track of the insects, who, crowding 

 upon the tongue to examine what it may be, are 

 suddenly drawn along with it into the animal's mouth, 

 and devoured. At other times it is said to plunge 

 its tongue into an ant-hill, and drag up with it in- 

 credible numbers of the inhabitants. The accuracy 

 of these accounts we have no right to question : but 

 it does not appear that the wryneck uses its extensile 

 tongue in this way ; at least, our young bird uni- 

 formly thrust its tongue, between the grass stems of 

 the white-throat's nest, to rout out the ants which 

 had taken shelter there, and as soon as they were 

 thus forced within its reach it pecked them up in the 

 usual way with its beak. It is probable, therefore, 

 that actual observation may discover all the ant- 

 eaters to proceed in the same manner ; and that 

 woodpeckers which prey on insects feeding under 

 the bark of trees, may only use their tongues to 

 drive their prey within reach of their beaks, and not, 

 as is usually believed, for catching it, by means of 

 its glutinous covering*. 



As these observations, however, differ widely from 

 the views of other naturalists, we shall not presume 

 to affirm that we are right and they wrong, but shall 

 quote one or two facts on the other side, and leave 

 our readers to verify or disprove them, as they may 

 find most accordant with truth. White, of Selborne, 

 says, <{ The wrynecks thrust their bills into the turf, in 

 quest, I conclude, of ants, which are their food. 

 While they hold their bills in the grass, they draw 

 out their prey with their tongues, which are so long 

 as to be coiled round their heads f." Colonel Montagu 

 says, " We were enabled to examine the manners 



* J. R.; t White's Selborne, ii. 246, ed. 1825. 



