30 
THE BEAK. 
dissector’s knife, readily separating the flesh from 
the bones : a bill, hooked at the end with sharp 
edges, may indeed he considered as a characteristic 
of all birds of prey, that is, of all birds living on 
smaller birds, or quadrupeds, or fishes. Instead of 
a hook there is a sort of tooth at the extremity of 
the beak of certain birds of this class, which adds 
greatly to its strength ; and it has been observed, 
that those possessing it are more noble and courage- 
ous than others. 
HKAD OF THE BEARDED VULTURE. 
Thus the Shrike, or Butcher Bird, although its 
usual food consists of beetles and insects, will not 
only bravely defend itself, hut occasionally attack 
birds far superior in size ; and is a perfect terror to 
the smaller species, who flutter round their assailant 
uttering the most piercing cries, as if they wished to 
give notice of the intruder’s approach. The hill of 
the Parrot is also hooked, hut is at the same time 
unfitted for the uses to which it is applied by the 
birds just mentioned, curving and overlapping the 
lower hill so much, that if the lower hill only had 
motion, the bird could scarcely open its mouth 
sufficiently wide to receive food ; yet, neither the 
