LI 



' THE structure and effect of the wing, in its relation to birds, 

 finds a parallel in that of the beak this organ of 

 birds so wonderful in its variety. If we look at The Cau8e 

 a long list of birds, we are met with a variety of Birds 

 beaks that seem to resemble a collection of tools. 

 . . . Let us take as extremes the tiny beak of the little long- 

 tailed titmouse, which is smaller than a grain of rice, and 

 that of the spoonbill, which is large and spoon-shaped ; 

 between these two extremes we have the greatest variety of 

 forms and modifications, which may be characterised as 

 follows : The bill of the chiff-chaff is almost as fine as a 

 needle, and is suitable for seizing the smallest and most 

 delicate insects ; on the other hand, the bill of the hawfinch 

 is so powerful that it breaks the hardest cherry-stone with 

 ease. The tip of the woodcock's bill is a borer, forming an 

 apparatus of touch, and when the bird bores into the ground, 

 the apparatus, like a man's finger, enables it to trace the 

 buried food, whereas the beaks of birds of prey are con- 

 structed for tearing flesh or dividing, and, consequently, are 

 hooked and hatchet-like.' 



The above extract is taken, not, as might be sup- 

 posed it was, from a popular work on ornithology, but 

 at random from a treatise written by direction of the 

 Hungarian Minister for Agriculture, M. Igndcz de 



213 



