THE BEAK. 31 



has been found, that the muscles for closing the 

 lower mandible were much larger and stronger on 

 the side opposite to that where the lower mandible 

 crossed the upper one ; a highly necessary provision, 

 to make amends for the increased quantity of power 

 necessary to give the mandibles equal and uniform 

 strength. 



The Puffin is another bird with a strangely large 

 and disproportioned bill, something like a Parrot's, 

 whence it is sometimes called the Sea Parrot: it is 

 also very powerful, and a bite from one of them 

 would inflict a serious wound. When once they 

 seize an object, they are with difficulty induced to 

 leave hold of it; and, as they grasp it with great 

 force, a singular mode of catching them is practised, 

 which we shall notice when we come to speak of 

 these birds. 



Again, the long tapering bill of the Snipe and 

 Woodcock tribe is the precise instrument wanted, 

 for penetrating deep into moist earth, from whence 

 they extract their food. In this case, strength is 

 not requisite, and would have been quite out of 

 character with the slender neck of this family, as 

 well as unnecessary, for the purpose of collecting 

 small worms; but length was indispensable, and 

 nature has provided accordingly. 



Woodcocks and Snipes are such shy birds, that 

 their modes of feeding can rarely be observed; but 

 sometimes opportunities have occurred, which prove 

 the truth of what is here said. A couple of Snipes 

 were, by means of a good telescope, actually seen 

 thus boring with their slender beaks in soft mire 

 for their food. They were feeding close to the edge 



