192 



CHAPTERS ON THE NATURAL HISTORY 



A Skimmer has the proximal half of its 1 > 1 1 1 a bright carmine 

 red, the balance being black. But the curious form of this bird's 

 beak is what commands the attention of every one who may 

 study the species. "Among the singular bills of birds," says 

 a writer, " that frequently excite our wonder, that of the skim- 

 mers is one of the most anomalous. The under inaudible is much 

 longer than the upper, compressed like a knife-blade 1 ; its end is 

 obtuse; its sides come abruptly together, and are completely 



•'•!VI&tv: : ' .-.;... 



Fig. 52. The Black Skimmer. 



About one-third the size of life. 



soldered; the upper edge is as sharp as the under, and fits a 

 groove in the upper mandible; the jawbone, viewed apart, looks 

 like a short-handled pitchfork. The upper mandible is also com- 

 pressed, but less so, nor is it so obtuse at the end; its substance 

 is nearly hollow, with light cancellated structure, such as is in a 

 toucan; it is freely movable by means of an elastic hinge a I the 

 forehead." 



