The Food of Birds ir^ 



old birds and the more advanced young following the 

 locusts." 



Slugs and snails are eaten ]\v thrushes and man}- other 

 small birds with avidity, and the name "Snail-hawk" 

 has been given on account of one bird's fondness h)i these 

 mollusks. The Oyster-catcher feeds on clams and oysters 

 and derives its name from the facility with which it in- 

 serts its bill and pries open the shells. The Courlan, 

 a near relative of the rails, feeds on clams and mussels 

 and has a most ingenious method of obtaining its food. 

 In shallow water it feels about with its feet for these 

 mollusks, and when they are found the bii-d inserts its 

 bill between the valves with a sudden quick stroke, and, 

 thus suspended, the heavy shell and its occupant are 

 carried to the shore, where the shell is forced open and 

 the animal eaten. Crows treat shell-fish in the same 

 way that they do sea-urchins and crabs, carrying them 

 aloft and, after dropping them, descending to feed 

 on the nutritious flesh ex])osed by the shattered 

 shells. 



Squids, the "head-footed" leaders of the division of 

 mollusks, are eaten In' penguins at least, and so numeious 

 and at times so conspicuous a feature of marine life are 

 they that probably many otlier l)irds also feed upon 

 them. Even deep-water snails and crabs are not safe, 

 as the sturdy sea-ducks will sometimes dive to a deptli 

 of one hundred and fifty feet to feed u])on them. 



Fish count many enemies among birds, which have 

 numerous ways of obtaining their victims from ocean or 

 lake. Some of these are so ingenious that thev well 



