Bird Study 37 



THE FORM AND USE OF BEAKS 



Teacher's Story 



INCE the bird uses its arms and hands for flying, it 

 has been obliged to develop other organs to take 

 their place, and of their work the beak does its full 

 share. It is well to emphasize this point by letting 

 the children at recess play the game of trying to eat 

 an apple or to put up their books and pencils with 

 their arms tied behind them; such an experiment 

 will show how naturally the teeth and feet come to the aid when the 

 hands are useless. 



The hen feeds upon seeds and insects which she finds on or in the 

 ground; her beak is homy and sharp and acts not only as a pair of nip- 

 pers, but also as a pick as she strikes it into the soil to get the seed or 

 insect, having already made bare the place by scratching away the grass 

 or surface of the soil with her strong, stubby toes. The hen does not have 

 any teeth, nor does she need any, for her sharp beak enables her to seize 

 her food; and she does not need to chew it, since her gizzard does this for 

 her after the food is swallowed. 



The duck's bill is broad, flat, and much softer than the hen's beak. 

 The duck feeds upon water insects and plants ; it attains these by thrust- 

 ing its head down into the water, seizing the food and holding it fast while 

 the water is strained out through the sieve at the edges of the beak; for 

 this use, a wide, flat beak is necessary. It would be quite as impossible 

 for a duck to pick up hard seeds with its broad, soft bill as it would for 

 the hen to get the duck's food out of the water with her narrow, horny 

 bill. 



Both the duck and hen use their bills for cleaning and oiling their 

 feathers and for fighting also ; the hen strikes a sharp blow with her beak 

 making a wound like a dagger, while the duck seizes the enemy and 

 simply pinches hard. Both fowls also use their beaks for turning over the 

 eggs when incubating, and also as an aid to the feet when they make nests 

 for themselves. 



The nostrils are very noticeable and are situated in the beak near the 

 base. However, we do not believe that birds have a keen sense of smell 

 since their nostrils are not surrounded by a damp, sensitive, soft surface 

 as are the nostrils of the deer and dog, this arrangement aiding these 

 animals to detect odor in a marvelous manner. 



LESSON V 

 The Beak of a Bird 



Leading thought — Each kind of bird has a beak especially adapted for 

 getting its food. The beak and feet of a bird are its chief weapons and 

 implements. 



Methods — Study first the beak of the hen or chick and then that of 

 the duckling or gosling. 



Observations — i . What kind of food does the hen eat and where and 

 how does she find it in the field or gaiden? How is her beak adapted to 

 get this food? If her beak were soft like that of a duck could she peck so 

 hard for seeds and worms ? Has the hen any teeth ? Does she need any ? 



