CHAPTER IV 



Nutrition (continued) Manipulation of food Powers of digestion, 

 differing in different groups The formation of pellets or 

 castings Difference in the food of old and young in some 

 cases Different methods of feeding the young Young 

 assisting parents in feeding their juniors Feeding of each 

 other by the sexes Drinking, and eating of such substances 

 as salt and earth. 



GENERALLY speaking, there is little manipulation of 

 food among birds, it being generally swallowed 

 whole ; and in many cases the power of deglutition 

 displayed is almost as remarkable as in the case of 

 reptiles. Fish-eating birds have the greatest repu- 

 tation for bolting huge morsels, but some of the 

 vegetable-feeding groups are very good seconds, 

 especially the large fruit-eating Pigeons, some of 

 which are instrumental in disseminating the nutmeg 

 by swallowing it for the sake of the investing 



" mace." 



In accordance with this habit of wholesale swal- 

 lowing, the tongue is of little importance in most 

 birds ; and although it is generally well-developed, 

 it is very rarely protruded beyond the bill, and 

 generally lies nearly inert within the lower jaw. In 

 the Pelicans and their allies, Gannets, Cormorants, 



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