CHAPTER IV 



Nutrition {continued) — Manipulation of food — ^Powers of digestion, 

 differing in different groups — The formation of pellets or 

 castings — ^Difference in the food of old and young in some 

 cases — ^Different methods of feeding the young — ^Young 

 assisting parents in feeding their juniors — Feeding of each 

 other by the sexes — Drinking, and eating of such substances 

 as salt and earth. 



Generally speaking, there is little manipulation of 

 food aj»ong birds, it being generally swallowed 

 whole ; and in many cases the. power of deglutition 

 displayed is almost as remarkable as in the case of 

 reptiles. Fish-eating birds have the greatest repu- 

 tation for bolting huge morsels, but some of the 

 vegetable-feeding groups are very good seconds, 

 especially the large fruit-eating Pigeons, some of 

 which are instrumental in disseminating the nutmeg 

 by swallowing it for the sake of the investing 

 " mace." 



In accordance with this habit of wholesale swal- 

 lowing, the tongue is of little importance in most 

 birds ; and although it is generally well-developed, 

 it is very rarely protruded beyond the bill, and 

 generally lies nearly inert within the lower jaw. In 

 ithe Pelicans and their allies, Gannets, Cormorants, 



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