crossbill’s story. 
161 
than that of others. Now it is the case with 
this species, and you can readily see, that as the 
young bird, imprisoned in its flinty covering, 
is making frantic efforts to escape, its young 
and tender bill becomes bent, and before the 
chick is hatched, it has actually retained its 
present form. I might give you an elaborate 
analysis of the reason for its becoming hard at 
once, but I think such is unnecessary.’ He 
then sat down, in the midst of an admiring 
audience. 
^ But, sir,’ suggested a pale and sickly- 
looking student, ^ might not nature have in- 
tended this bird’s bill to be of this form, that 
its peculiar food — the seeds of pines — could 
be opened with the greater facility ? ’ 
^ Pooh ! you know nothing about nature,’ 
quickly and politely answered the other, who 
could not appreciate this rational explanation 
of my form. ^ If you look deeper into the 
great secrets that she conceals, you will appre- 
ciate this fact. But I see I must show you. 
I will take the bird, and cut off its head, and, 
by a dissection of the muscles that move it, 
11 
