. Useful birds and their protection. Containing brief descriptions of the more common and useful species of Massachusetts, with accounts of their food habits, and a chapter on the means of attracting and protecting birds. Birds; Birds. 246 USEFUL BIRDS. draws back Ms head and body to the greatest possible dis- tance from the tree, and then strikes with all his force, send- ing his strong beak powerfully into the wood. The skull of the typical Woodpecker is very thick and hard. Its connec- tion with the beak is strong, but at the same time springy, and somewhat jar-deadening. The membrane which
. Useful birds and their protection. Containing brief descriptions of the more common and useful species of Massachusetts, with accounts of their food habits, and a chapter on the means of attracting and protecting birds. Birds; Birds. 246 USEFUL BIRDS. draws back Ms head and body to the greatest possible dis- tance from the tree, and then strikes with all his force, send- ing his strong beak powerfully into the wood. The skull of the typical Woodpecker is very thick and hard. Its connec- tion with the beak is strong, but at the same time springy, and somewhat jar-deadening. The membrane which sur- rounds the brain is very thick and strong. Maurice Thompson says that no person can doubt, after an examination of Woodpecker habits, that the birds are hard of hearing. He apparently believes that the continual concussion has deadened this sense. However this may be, it has not interfered with the bird's sight, which seems pre- ternaturally keen. The bill is shaped somewhat like a stout chisel, and is used as one. It strikes out small chips, and so drills its way, if necessary, even to the heart of the tree ; but the most highly spe- cialized organ of the Woodpecker is its tongue, which serves as an accessory to the bill in bringing to light the deep-lurking enemies of the tree. The subjoined cut of the Woodpecker's skull (Fig. 103) shows the tongue slightly protruding from the open beak. Ordinarily the tongue lies in the depression of the lower mandible. It is slender, nearly round, and its upper sur- face is covered with very minute spines, directed backward ; its tip is as hard as horn, with many. Pig. - Skull and tongue of Woodpecker, (rrom Samuels.) Fig. 104. — Spearlike tongue-tip o( Downy Woodpecker, muct enlarged. strong barbs, which make of it a weapon more eifective in its way than a fish spear. The machinery for thrusting it forth is most perfect. The bone of the tongue, called the hyoid, has two branches which pass down- ward and backward from the low
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublisherb, booksubjectbirds
