40 Introduction. 



The Oyster- catcher, with his straight, long, wedge-shaped bill, 

 is enabled to wrench open the oysters, mussels, and shell-fish 

 which form his food, to detach them from the rocks to which 

 they adhere, and to scoop them out of their shells. 



The Cormorant, with its long, straight, powerfully-hooked bill, 

 can kill its finny prey by the squeeze it is enabled to give. 



The Petrels, with their compact and hooked bills, can break 

 the skin of the floating whale, and gorge themselves with blubber 

 to repletion. 



Such are some of the many forms of beak displayed by the 

 British birds. From this we can judge (as Yarrell remarks) what 

 ' singular modifications of this organ nature sometimes exhibits, 

 as if to show the many diversities of form which can be rendered 

 applicable to one purpose.' Man, with all his boasted mechanical 

 skill, would fail to contrive implements so perfectly adapted to 

 the end for which they were devised ; some fitted to tear in pieces 

 the yet warm and quivering bodies of the recently killed prey ; 

 others to rip up and consume the putrid carcase ; some fitted for 

 devouring insects and worms, some for breaking up hard seeds 

 and grain ; these slender, light, and pliant, suited to the gentle 

 uses to which they are applied ; some adapted for securing and 

 holding a slippery prey, others supplied with organs for discover- 

 ing that prey when out of sight. There are many other in- 

 stances of this varied form and varied appliance, but we need 

 no more to prove their diversity, their excellence, their perfection. 



Before I conclude this part of my subject I will just call atten- 

 tion to the extraordinary superstition entertained in this country, 

 and especially in Scotland, not many years since, in regard to 

 long beaks. One cannot very clearly see the connection between 

 a long beak and a goblin ; nor is it easy to say whence such an 

 idea could have arisen; yet such was the common belief, and 

 without attempting to give any reason, everybody knew well 

 enough that a long beak portended no good. Sir Walter Scott 

 alludes to this ; and Yarrell tells us that the Highlander will pray 

 to be preserved from 'witches, warlocks (or wizards), and aw 

 lang-nebbed things.' But this superstition is not peculiar to 



