THE BEAK. 33 



the very end of the beak; hence it has been con- 

 jectured they have some sense of taste, of which 

 birds in general are supposed to be destitute. That 

 this is the use for which these additional nerves is 

 designed, may be further gathered from the accurate 

 examinations of a bill, much resembling a Duck's, 

 belonging to one of the most extraordinary animals 

 in the world, found only in New South Wales. It is 

 called the "Duck-billed Platypus;" having the beak 

 of a duck, the body of an animal, and the feet 

 webbed, and furnished also with strong claws. As 

 it lives underground generally, its eyes are like the 

 mole's, so small as nearly to prevent its seeing. It 

 depends, therefore, in great measure, upon the sense 

 of feeling, and smelling, and tasting belonging to the 

 beak for its livelihood ; and accordingly it is found 

 that throughout the whole beak, and more especially 

 at its extremities, there is a fine nervous tissue, which 

 renders it as sensible as the tongue for the taste, or 

 the fingers for the touch, and the nose for smelling. 



Beak of the New Holland Shoveler*. 



There is a duck closely allied to our Shovelers, 

 whose beak has a curious addition certain flaps or 



* Anas Melanorhynchos. 

 VOL. I. D 



