122 The Bird 



similar to this and is well worth examining. The use of 

 such a complicated organ in a bird of so simple feeding 

 habits as the duck is hard to explain. 



We will hardly find two tongues that are alike, and 

 even the tips differ, and show as wide a range of varia- 



FIGS. 93 and 94. Top and side views of the tongue of a Mallard Duck, showing 

 complicated structure in the tongue of a bird which sifts its food from the mud. 



tion as the remaining portions. In many birds, such as 

 owls, larks, and swifts, the tip is bifid, or double-pointed, 

 bringing to mind the forked tongues of snakes and cer- 

 tain lizards. In woodpeckers the tongue is round and 

 exceedingly long, and can usually be thrown out some 

 distance beyond the tip of the bill. 



Our common Flicker, or Golden-winged Woodpecker, 



