126 LAND TOBTOISE. 



(my neMj-discovered migrators), scattered, at intervals, all 

 along tlie Sussex downs from Cliicliester to Lewes. liot 

 them come from whence they will, it looks very suspicious 

 that they are cantoned all along the coast, in order to pass 

 the Channel, when severe weather advances. They visit us 

 again in April, as it should seem, in their return, and are 

 not to he found in the dead of winter. It is remarkable that 

 they are very tame, and seem to have no manner of appre- 

 hensions of danger from a person vdth a gun. There are 

 bustards on the wide downs near Erighthelmstone. No 

 doubt you are acquainted with the Sussex downs. The 

 prospects and rides round Lewes are most lovely. 



As I rode along near the coast I kept a very sharp look- 

 out in the lanes and Woods, hoping I might, at this time of 

 the year, have discovered some of the summer short-winged 

 birds of passage crowding towards the coast, in order for 



the seeds of the different fir-cones ; and their mode of operation, -when pro- 

 ceeding to extract them, is this : — They first fix themselves across the cone ; 

 then, bringing the points of the maxilla from their crossed or lateral position 

 to lie immediately over each other, in this reduced compass they insinuate their 

 beaks between the scales, and then opening them, not in the usual manner, 

 but by drawing the inferior maxilla sideways, force open the scales. Mr. Yairel 

 then proceeds: — "At this stage of the proceeding, the aid of the tongue 

 becomes necessary, and this organ is no less admirably adapted for the service 

 required. The os hyoides, or bone of the tongue, has articulated to its ante- 

 rior extremity an additional portion, formed partly of bone, with a horny 

 covering. In shape it is narrow, about 3-8ths of an inch in length, and 

 extends downwards and forwards, the sides curved upwards, the distal 

 extremity shaped like a scoop, somewhat pointed and thin on both edges, the 

 proximal extremity ending in two small processes, elongated upwards and 

 backwards above the articulation with the bone of the tongue, each process 

 having inserted upon it a slender muscle extending backwards to the glottis, 

 and attached to the os hyoides, which muscles, by their contraction, extend and 

 raise the scoop-like point ; underneath the articulation of this homy and 

 grooved appendage is another small muscle, which is attached at one extremity 

 to the OS hyoides, at the other to the moveable piece, and, by its action, as an 

 antagonist to the upper muscles, bends the point downwards and backwards; 

 while, therefore, the point of the beak presses the shell from the body of the 

 cone, the tongue, brought forward by its own muscle (gemo-kyoideus) , is 

 enabled, by the additional muscles described, to direct and insert its cutting 

 scoop underneath the seed, and the food thus dislodged is transferred to the 

 mouth ; and, when the mandibles are separated laterally in this operation, the 

 bird has an uninterrupted view of the seed in the cavity, with the eye on that 

 side to which the under mandible is curved." 



For farther information consult Zoological Jowndl, vol. iv. p. 459, — W. J. 



