Knowledge of natural history, revfrom Reason why: natural history, giving reasons for hundreds of interesting facts in connection with zoology; and throwing light upon the peculiar habits and instincts of the various orders of the animal kingdom . urface is armed arearranged in an irregular and alternate series, and act with the notcheson the edge of the upper mandible, on which they press when thebird feeds with the head reversed. In this reversed position, the weightand size of the tongue supply a very efficient instrument for entrappingthe food. The bird muddles and clutters the bill, and d
Knowledge of natural history, revfrom Reason why: natural history, giving reasons for hundreds of interesting facts in connection with zoology; and throwing light upon the peculiar habits and instincts of the various orders of the animal kingdom . urface is armed arearranged in an irregular and alternate series, and act with the notcheson the edge of the upper mandible, on which they press when thebird feeds with the head reversed. In this reversed position, the weightand size of the tongue supply a very efficient instrument for entrappingthe food. The bird muddles and clutters the bill, and dabbles about;and the tongue receives, and holds as a strainer, whatever the wateroffers for food.* * Maunders Treasury. KNOWLEDGE OF NATURAL HISTORY. 279 What is this mighty breath, ye sages sayThat, in a powerful language, felt, not heard,Instructs the fowls of heaven?—Thomson. 901. Why does the flamingo make its nest uponmound-like elevations ? Because the greatlength of the legs of theflamingo precludes thepossibility of its conduct-ing incubation in the ordi-nary manner. Inhabitingmarshy places, the nestsare thus raised above thervet soil, to a dry andwarm situation, in whichthe process of hatchingcan more effectually 902. These elevated nests are constructed bv the bird out of looseearth or mud, formed into the shape of a hillock, with a hollow cavity atthe top; the eggs are two or three in number, white, and as large asthose of a goose, but of a longer figure. The female sits upon her nestduring incubation, the attitude being that of a person sitting upon ahigh stool—the legs resting on marshy ground, and sometimes even in thewater. Sometimes, if the female finds a low projecting rock, she makesher nest on the edge, thereof, and raises no hillock. 903. Why has the avocet a bill shaped like a scoop? Avocets are fen birds; but, in feeding, they frequentonly those parts of the fens which are alternately floodedand left dry by tidal waters. Their bills ar
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1916
