BIRDS. 7 



Adaptation of structure to various pursuits. 



tance to obtain their food, are furnished with 

 large strong wings ; while domestic birds are 

 uniformly the reverse. The generality of small 

 birds, sparrows for instance, that harbour near 

 our habitations, and pick up grain or crumbs 

 from the table, have a small bill, with short legs 

 .and neck; but the case is different with the 

 woodcock, the snipe, and a variety of other birds 

 that seek their aliment very deep in the earth,' or 

 amidst slime and mud. 



The bill of the woodpecker is of a consider- 

 able length, and very strong; the tongue also is 

 sharp, extremely long, and armed with small 

 points, to enable the bird to obtain its prey; 

 which consists chiefly of little worms or insects 

 that lr ' in the heart of many branches, or under 

 of old wood. The heron, on the con- 

 _tls on frogs, or whatever small fish he 



.ii pick up in fens, or near the shores of rivers 

 or the sea; he is therefore elevated on very long 

 legs and thighs, almost destitute of plumage; 

 and his long neck and enormous bill, jagged at 

 the extremity, like hooks, enable him to seize 

 and detain his slimy prey. Similar observations 

 may be applied to the whole of the race of vo- 

 latiles. 



The organ of smelling is large, and so well 

 provided with nerves as to render this sen- 

 sation very acute. This is sufficiently illustrated 

 by the raven, who is able to find out his prey, 



