THE BEAK. 
39 
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 spawn, worms, or 
other soft water insects. One other beak only shall 
be mentioned, — namely, that of the Spoonbill, which, 
in ‘its food, partaking of the nature of the Heron 
and Duck tribes, is provided accordingly ; its in- 
terior part being furnished with rough projections, 
which prevent the escape of such slippery things as 
small fish, w T hile its wide spoon-shaped end enables 
it to crush and sift mud and weeds, for worms 
or soft vegetable matter. 
THE PELICAN. 
