By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 



165 



fruits, in order to procure the kernels inside : for such work, and 

 for pulling seeds from husks, and grain from pods, can we conceive 

 anything more appropriate than the conical form of these strong yet 

 short pointed beaks ? With these the larks and buntings can 

 thrive in the stubble ; the finches can gain a supply of the seeds of 

 a thousand plants ; the starlings and the whole family of crows 

 can support themselves with grain, when other food cannot be 

 found for these insatiable and omnivorous birds. 



We come now to the third order of perchers, the "Scansores" 

 (climbers). These do not derive their title from the form of their 

 beak, but we shall find it not the less remarkable, or peculiarly 

 adapted to their habits. The nature of these birds is to climb 

 about trees, buildings, and other places, grasping firmly with their 

 peculiar feet, supporting themselves with their bristly tails, thrust- 

 ing their beaks under and into the bark, into the fissures and rotten 

 wood of decayed timber, and such places, in search of their insect 

 food. Now to this end, what can be more adapted than the form 

 of their beak, long, conical, angular, and wedge-shaped at the 

 point ; and in addition to this some families are furnished with 

 very long tongues, capable of great extension, armed with a horny 

 point, and copiously supplied with a tenacious mucus, wherewith 

 they transfix and convey to their mouths such insects and larvse as 

 they have discovered. Sometimes in their ascent they tap the 

 trees with their beaks to induce the insects to come out, and to test 

 the soundness or hollowness of the wood ; their instinct always 

 telling them where their food is likely to be found. At other 

 times we may hear them from a considerable distance hammering 

 and digging at the tough bark, or see them scattering the chips on 

 all sides by their repeated strokes, as they are busy in dislodging 

 their concealed prey ; others again may be seen peering and prying 

 into every cavity, probing every fissure with their sharp, curved 

 bill, leaving no crevice or fissure untried. For all these pur- 

 poses with how admirable an instrument are they provided ! how 

 exactly suited to their wants ! with this the woodpeckers can 

 remove the bark till they can reach their victims, the nuthatches 

 can split open the nuts which they have previously fixed in 



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