THE BEAK. 29 



dissector's knife, readily separating the flesh from 

 the bones: a bill, hooked at the end with sharp 

 edges, may indeed be considered as a characteristic 

 of all birds of prey, that is, of all birds living on 

 smaller birds, or quadrupeds, or fishes. Instead of 

 a hook there is a sort of tooth at the extremity of 

 the beak of certain birds of this class, which adds 

 greatly to its strength; and it has been observed, 

 that those possessing it are more noble and cou- 

 rageous than others. 



Head of the Bearded Vulture. 



Thus the Shrike, or Butcher Bird, although its 

 usual food consists of beetles and insects, will not 

 only bravely defend itself, but occasionally attack 

 birds far superior in size; and is a perfect terror to 

 the smaller species, who flutter round their assailant 

 uttering the most piercing cries, as if they wished 

 to give notice of the intruder's approach. The bill 

 of the Parrot is also hooked, but is at the same time 

 unfitted for the uses to which it is applied by the 

 birds just mentioned, curving and overlapping the 

 lower bill so much, that if the lower bill only had 

 motion, the bird could scarcely open its mouth 

 sufficiently wide to receive food; yet, neither the 



