A YOUNG NATURALIST* 



423 



tail distinguishes it from its brothers, the little ant-eater 

 (M. dydactyla), which seldom visits the ground, and eats 

 more insects than ants, and the tamandua (Tamanduate- 

 tradactyla)" 



" But how many ants does it take to satisfy it ?" 



" Thousands ; and it would die of hunger if it had to 

 take them one by one ; but, thanks to the length of its 

 tongue, it is enabled to pick up hundreds at a time." 



" What a very peculiar meal !" 



" Didn't you know that some Indians are ant-eaters ? In 

 the Terre-M'oide, for instance, dishes are made of red ants' 

 eggs, and there is one species which secretes a sweet liq- 

 uid, of which children are very fond." 



Oh the shore of the lake a fresh surprise awaited us. 

 The bank to the right was covered with cranes, and that to 

 the left with spoonbills, with delicate pink plumage, one of 

 w r hich Lucien shot. 



" Oh, what beautiful birds !" said he. 



" What a curious beak !" he further exclaimed, examin- 

 ing his victim, which Gringalet had just brought him. 



" Yes, that is why this bird is called a spoonbill." 



" Is it good to eat ?" 



" It is rather tough ; but when any one is hungry — " 

 Sumichrast put his finger to his lips to enjoin silence; 



two smaller waders made their appearance and settled close 



to us. 



" Now, Master Sunbeam," said Sumichrast, " fire at the 

 bird to the left, while I aim at the one to the right. Those 

 are egrets, and your sister will like some of their beautiful 

 feathers to put in her hat. Now, then — one, two — fire !" 



The two shots sounded almost at the same moment, and 

 the birds fell over on to4he ground. This double report 

 put to flight all the spoonbills and cranes, and the lake was 

 soon perfectly deserted. 



