THE BEAK. 
33 
forehead. As yet no satisfactory explanation has been 
given for these enormous protuberances. In the Toucan, 
indeed, it has been suspected that the hill is capable of 
feeling pleasure or pain, and not altogether insensible, like 
the horny hills of other birds, and the nails and claws of 
animals ; for the above-mentioned bird was frequently 
observed to scratch his beak with his foot, which he 
would not have done had it not produced an agreeable 
sensation. 
The Pelican’s beak is also very large, and the under jaw 
Tire Pelican. 
or mandible furnished with a vast pouch, in which it can 
convey a considerably supply of food for its young. The 
Avoset, a bird of the wading tribe, which collects its food in 
shallow water, or moist sandy places, has a very different 
sort of beak, of singular construction, resembling flexible flat 
pieces of whalebone, and not bending downwards, as is 
usually the case, but turning upwards; with this it scoops up 
