38 
THE BEAK. 
therein, and giving at the same time a strong lateral 
wrench. He continued this work with great dexte - 
rity, till he had almost reduced the body to a shape- 
less mass. He first ate all the soft parts, leaving 
the larger hones to the last, which seemed to give 
him more trouble, particularly the beak and legs. 
In the Buceros, or Hornbill, the beak is equally 
monstrous, and rendered still more hideously dis- 
proportioned, by the addition of a large naked bony 
protuberance on the forehead. As yet, no satisfac- 
tory explanation has been given for these enormous 
protuberances. In the Toucan, indeed, it has been 
suspected, that the bill is capable of feeling pleasure 
or pain, and not altogether insensible, like the homy 
bills of other birds, and the nails and claws of 
animals ; for the above-mentioned bird was fre- 
quently 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 or mandible furnished with a vast pouch, 
in which it can convey a considerable supply of 
food for its young. The Avoset, a bird of the 
* Buceros, Violaceous, and Rhinoceros. 
