PAEEOTS. 
with them. They find these upon many of the palms, 
upon the wild almonds, and upon various other trees. 
In order to enable them to open the valves of these 
nuts, it is obvious that a peculiar mechanism must 
be required, as many of them are exceedingly com- 
pact and hard. This is not done by mere random 
force, but by an application of the powers of the bill, 
in a manner so perfect that the bird is enabled to 
break the shell and get at the kernel with a very 
small degree of labour. Tlie bill is not a snapping 
bill, but works wholly by pressure ; and its opera- 
tions are assisted considerably by the short muscular 
tongue, which guides the substance to the most eftec- 
tive part of the mandibles. 
The curvature of the upper mandible, and the celf 
at its base in some of the birds, give it somewhat tlu' 
character of a rapacious beak, but it is apj:>lied to a 
totally different purpose. Tlie notch in the uppei' 
mandible, observes Mr. Swainson, so analogous to 
that of a rapacious bird, is not used to tear the food, 
but acts as a rest for those hard nuts wliich are t(> 
be cracked and broken by the great muscular force* 
of the under mandible.* When the shell or kernel 
is introduced into the bill, it is placed by the tongue* 
against the hook of the upper mandible, in the very 
best position for the application of the lower man- 
dible, by means of which the valves are to be sepa- 
rated. This is done solely by the touch of the tongue, 
for the bill has no sensibility, and it is impossible that 
the eye can be of any assistance. When the shell 
is broken, the tongue still presses the kernel against 
* Glassification of Bii’ds. 
