256 
POPULAR HISTOEY OJb' BIRDS. 
the neck lias a collar^ or ruff, of elongated feathers^ from 
which, they derive their English name. Most of the birds 
of this family are highly esteemed as food. 
The Snipes and Woodcocks have a straight beak^ which 
is slightly curved at the tip^ which,, being soft^ after death 
contracts and becomes dimpled^ like the end of a thimble. 
Mr. Yarrell has well described the structure of it in his 
^British Birds.' He says: — ^^If the upper mandible be 
macerated in water for a few days, the skin^ or cuticle^ may 
be readily peeled off; and the bones^ thus laid bare^ pre- 
sent a similar appearance. The external surface presents 
numerous elongated^ hexagonal cells^ which afford^ at the 
same time^ protection and space for the expansion of minute 
portions of nerves^ supplied to them by two branches of the 
fifth pair ; and the end of the bill becomes^ in consequence 
of this provision^ a delicate organ of touchy to assist these 
birds when boring for their food in soft ground ; this en- 
larged extremity of the beak possessing such a degree of 
sensibility as to enable these birds to detect their prey the 
instant it comes in contact with it^ although placed beyond 
the reach of sight.''^ The head in the snipes and wood- 
cocks is compressed ; and this^ joined to the backward posi- 
tion of their large eyes^ gives these birds a very stupid air. 
