THE BEAK. 



33 



forehead. As yet no satisfactory explanation has been 

 given for these enormous protuberances. In the Toucan, 

 indeed, it has been suspected that the bill is capable of 

 feeling pleasure or pain, and not altogether insensible, like 

 the horny bills of other birds, and the nails and claws of 

 animals ; for the above-mentioned bird was frequently 

 observed to scratch his^ beak with his foot, which he 

 would not have done had it not produced an agreeable 

 sensation. 



The Pelican's beak is also very large, and the under jaw 



The Pelican. 



or mandible furnished with a vast pouch, in which it can 

 convey a considerably supply of food for its young. The 

 Avoset, a bird of the wading tribe, which collects its food in 

 shallow water, or moist sandy places, has a very different 

 sort of beak, of singular construction, resembling flexible flat 

 pieces of whalebone, and not bending downwards, as is 

 usually the case, but turning upwards; with this it scoops up 



D 



