I 22 



The Dird 



similar to this and is well worth exainininjj:. The use of 

 such a comj)lieated organ in a bird of so sin:ple feeding 

 habits as the duck is hard to explain. 



We will hardly find two tongues that are alike, and 

 even the tips differ, and show as wide a range of varia- 



Fios. Oo and 94. — Top and side views of the tongue of a Mallard Duck, showing 

 c(jiii])li("ited structure in the tongue of a bird which sifts its food from the mud. 



tion as the remaining portions. In man}' l)irds, such as 

 owls, larks, and swifts, the tip is bifid, or dou})le-pointed, 

 ])iinging to mind the forked tongues of snakes and cer- 

 tain lizards. In woodpeckers the tongue is round and 

 exceedingly long, and can usually be thrown out some 

 distance beyond the tip of the bill. 



Our conuiion Flicker, or Golden-winged Woodpecker, 



