Beaks of Birds. 39 



of the young of this species when first hatched was dilated like 

 that of the adult bird, and was therefore as broad as the body, 

 and quite out of proportion to the size of the duckling. Further 

 investigation has, however, proved this to be erroneous ; and as 

 the young of the crossbill and the spoonbill described above, 

 so the young of the shoveller when first hatched presents no 

 peculiarity in the beak. 



There are several other birds presenting very singular beaks, 

 and each exactly suited to the habits of its owner, but to describe 

 them at length would occupy too much space. That of the 

 woodcock and snipe, to which I have slightly alluded above, 

 deserves close attention, as being most delicate and beautiful. 

 It is extremely long, the point of it dimpled, soft, spongy, and 

 cellular, and exhibits great sensibility; it is repeatedly thrust 

 up to the base in the soft mud by the sides of springs or in 

 water-meadows, and, so susceptible is it of the finest feeling, that 

 this sensitive organ can detect the prey of which it is in search 

 the instant it comes in contact with it, though it is necessarily 

 out of sight. 



The Hawfinch, on the other hand, which lives upon the seeds 

 of the hornbeam and the kernels of haws and stone-fruits, is 

 armed with a massive and homy beak, capable of cracking the 

 strongest shells, and of inflicting a severe bite, as I once expe- 

 rienced, by offering my boot to a specimen which I had 

 wounded ; and it was astonishing with what pertinacity the 

 powerful little fellow held on, and again and again returned to 

 the charge. 



The handsome but rarely seen Hoopoe stalks about in moist 

 places, with his head erect and his long curved beak searching 

 for worms and insects just as Ovid described him so many 

 centuries ago : 



' Prominet immodicum pro longa cuspide rostrum.' 



The Puffin, with his singular and gaudy-coloured, but power- 

 ful and sharp-edged bill, burrows out deep holes in which it 



breeds. 



