WOODPECKEES. 
junction with the tongue, a very acute angle, slightly 
diverging as they proceed backwards, until bending 
downwards at h, they pass obliquely round the sides of 
the neck, connected by a membrane, g ; then, being 
again inflected upwards, they converge towards the 
back of the head, where they meet, and, being enclosed 
in a common sheath, are conducted together along a 
groove, which extends forwards, along the middle 
line of the cranium, c?, till it arrives between the eyes. 
From this point the groove and the two cartilages it 
contains, which are now more closely conjoined, are 
deflected towards the right side, and terminate at the 
edge of the aperture of the right nostril, e, into wdiich 
the united cartilages are finally inserted. In order 
that their course may be seen more distinctly, these 
cartilages are represented in the figure at c, drawn out 
of the groove provided to receive and protect them.* 
These cartilages are put in action by a long and slen- 
der muscle attached to the inner margin of each, and 
a counteraction is caused by another set of fibres 
passing in front of the anterior portion of the 
cartilages. The cartilages themselves are nearly as 
elastic as steel springs, and thus a considerable ex- 
pense of muscular power is saved, and the bird is 
enabled to protrude and withdraw its lengthened 
tongue with great rapidity and but little effort. 
In the cut, h is the salivary gland which secretes a 
glutinous fluid, with which the tongue is overspread, 
and by means of which, it is said, ants and simi- 
lar small insects adhering to it are drawn into the 
bill ; but whether this be so or not, there is another 
* Animal and 'S'egetable Physiology, Dr. Eoget. 
