ADAPTATIONS 



125 



dents may be put in the 

 way of independent ob- 

 servation along an ex- 

 tremely interesting and 

 attractive line of zoolog- 

 ical study. 



76. Adaptations for 

 securing food. For the 

 purpose of capture of 

 their prey, some carniv- 

 orous animals are pro- 

 vided with strong claws, 

 sharp teeth, hooked 

 beaks, and other struc- 

 tures familiar to us in 

 the lion, tiger, dog, cat, 

 owl, and eagle. Insect- 

 eating mammals have 

 contrivances especially 



FIG. 55. The brown pelican, showing gular 

 sac, which it uses in catching and holding 

 fishes that form its food. 



Fie. 56. Foot of the bald eagle, show- 

 ing claws for seizing its prey, 

 (CHAPMAN.) 



adapted for the catching of insects. The 

 ant-eater, for example, has a 

 curious, long sticky tongue 

 which it thrusts forth from 

 its cylindrical snout deep 

 into the recesses of the ant- 

 hill, bringing it out with its 

 sticky surface covered with 

 ants. Animals which feed on 

 nuts are fitted with strong 

 teeth or beaks for crack- 

 ing them. Similar teeth are 

 found in those fishes which 

 feed on crabs, snails, or sea-ur- 

 chins. Those mammals like 

 the horse and cow, that 

 feed on plants, have usually 



