THE BEAK. 
35 
that throughout the whole beak, and more especially 
at its extremities, there is a fine nervous tissue, 
which renders it as sensible as the tongue for the 
taste, or the fingers for the touch, and the nose for 
smelling. 
There is a duck closely allied to our Shovelers, 
whose beak has a curious addition — certain flaps or 
loose projections — of which the annexed figure will 
give a better idea than any description. It is found 
in Australia, but its habits are little known. 
BEAK OF THE NEW HOLLAND SHOVELER*. 
In the Goosander, which in other respects par- 
takes much of the nature of ducks, these rows of 
tooth-like lines are harder, and very much resemble 
the teeth of a saw, extending along the edge of the 
beak ; thus enabling it to secure even eels and fish, 
of which it destroys great numbers, and which would, 
but for this addition, make their escape, and slip 
away from a surface unprovided with means of hold- 
ing them fast. The bill of the Rhynchops or Skim- 
mer, which collects its food floating on the surface 
of the waves, as it swims across the ocean, is another 
* Anas Melanorhynchos. 
D 2 
