254 



Birds of Buzzard's Roost 



covered with a thin membrane or sheath ; descend into upper 

 mandible by the right side of the right nostril, and reach to 

 within half an inch of the point of the bill, to which they are 

 attached by another extremely elastic membrane, that yields 

 when the tongue is thrown out, and contracts as it is re- 



Special Development of Tongues of Woodpeckers: a, skull of 

 flicker (Colaptes auratus), showing root of tongue extending to tip 

 of bill; 6, head of hairy woodpecker (Dryobates villosus), showing 

 root of tongue curving around eye. 



Tongue of Woodpecker: a, hyoid of flicker (Colaptes auratus); 

 6, tip of tongue of downy woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens). 



tracted." The surface of the tongue is covered with a viscid 

 substance which causes the insects and larvae to adhere to it 

 when it is protruded into a boring or an ant's nest. The tip 

 of the tongue is sharp pointed and barbed like a fisherman's 

 spear, thus enabling the bird to spear the larvae of a borer 

 that is deep down in its hole, and pull it out. 



