158 ON A MALFORMATION 
curving downward on the right side of the lower one, 
which takes an upward direction to the left. The 
preternatural elongation of the mandibles, in con- 
junction with a considerable degree of curvature, 
gives to this individual (which, on dissection, proved 
to be a male) a peculiar physiognomical expression, 
and must have contributed greatly to modify its 
manner of feeding; the contents of the stomach, 
however, were so changed by maceration, that it 
was not possible to determine by inspection of what 
they consisted. I may remark that this bird was in 
excellent condition, notwithstanding the inclemency 
of the season, a convincing proof that it had acquired 
much expertness in the management of its singularly 
formed bill. 
A Rook, also preserved in the Manchester Mu- 
seum, has its mandibles crossed near their extremities, 
but so slightly as not to have interfered materially 
with the mode of procuring food usually employed 
by that species, as is clearly evinced by the denuded 
state of the nostrils and the anterior part of the head, 
both of which are entirely destitute of feathers. Ano- 
ther specimen which was in the possession of the late 
Mr. R. Wood, a zealous collector of objects in natural 
history, residing in Manchester, had the mandibles 
greatly elongated and much curved, as in the case of 
the Jackdaw detailed above. Now it is evident that 
the bird possessing a bill thus formed could not 
thrust it into the ground in search of worms and 
