. The bird, its form and function. Birds. 144 The Bird there is such specialization for feeding on particular varieties or portions of plants. We find fruit- and grain- eaters, besides those which feed almost entirely on buds, leaves, berries and nuts, nectar, sap, and even pollen. Lichens form a considerable item in the bill of fare of ptarmigans, the Arctic grouse. We have even dedicated certain plants to birds which show a decided partiality for them,—duckweed and Fig. 109.—Vireo, an insect-hunter, with a delicate, hooked bill. There is no doubt that a great many plants be
. The bird, its form and function. Birds. 144 The Bird there is such specialization for feeding on particular varieties or portions of plants. We find fruit- and grain- eaters, besides those which feed almost entirely on buds, leaves, berries and nuts, nectar, sap, and even pollen. Lichens form a considerable item in the bill of fare of ptarmigans, the Arctic grouse. We have even dedicated certain plants to birds which show a decided partiality for them,—duckweed and Fig. 109.—Vireo, an insect-hunter, with a delicate, hooked bill. There is no doubt that a great many plants benefit from the cross-fertilization of their flowers by humming- birds carrying the pollen from blossom to blossom. Of one of the sugar-birds of South Africa it is said: "When sucking up the nectar of one of the larger protea-blossoms, the bird perches on the edge of the flower, plunges its long bill and the greater part of its head downwards among the petals, and retains it in this position until. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Beebe, William, 1877-1962. New York, Holt
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1906
