external anatomy. bill. 
6l 
flesh of those animals which are caught, and which 
could not be accomplished by a bill of the ordinary 
shape. A modification of this structure is also seen 
in the parrots (d), where 
the point of the bill, es- 
pecially of the macaws 
(Macrocereus'), is even 
j more pointed. Personal 
observation, however, en- 
ables us to account for 
this apparent anomaly. 
Many of the parrots of 
,^^1} South America stick their 
sharp-pointed and hooked 
bill into the fruit they 
teed upon, before it is brought between both man- 
wbles ; so that, in fact, it serves to secure their food 
wfore they begin to devour it. The notch, again, in 
the upper mandible, so analogous to that of a rapa- 
cious bird, is not used to tear the food, but acts as 
a rest for those hard nuts which are to be cracked and 
broken by the great muscular force of the under man- 
dible. The favourite food of most of the splendid 
macaws of Brazil consists in the seeds or nuts of 
the different species of palms ; and these are so deeply 
seated in their husks or receptacles, that they could 
not be extracted but by a biU which could perform 
the office of a pick-axe; and such a bill has accord- 
ingly been given to the macaws. But we must now 
pass on to other shapes. The lateral tooth, so con- 
spicuous in the genera last mentioned, becomes very much 
sinaller in the birds composing the tribe of Dentirostres, 
where it only assumes (except in the Laniada;, or 
shrikes, and their representatives) the appearance of a 
istinct notch, such as may be observed in any of our 
thmshes and warblers. Finally, in the conirostral 
ib^ where we have the crows and starlings, this 
notch becomes almost obsolete ; being always faint, and 
requently wanting. This substitute for real teeth is 
