32 
THE BEAK. 
found, that the muscles for closing the lower man- 
dible were much larger and stronger on the side 
opposite to that where the lower mandible crossed 
THE CROSS-BILL. 
the upper one ; a highly necessary provision, to 
make amends for the increased quantity of power 
necessary to give the mandibles equal and uniform 
strength. 
The Puffin is another bird with a strangely large 
and disproportioned hill, something like a Parrot's, 
whence it is sometimes called the Sea Parrot: it is 
also very powerful, and a bite from one of them 
would inflict a serious wound. When once they 
seize an object, they are with difficulty induced to 
leave hold of it ; and, as they grasp it with great 
force, a singular mode of catching them is practised, 
