. Natural history object lessons : a manual for teachers. Pig. 111.—Tongue of the Woodpecker. pointed papillae; but in general it is thin, dry, very pro-tractile, and clefttowards the end. Intwo or three speciesof reptiles, however,the tongue is deve-loped into a remark-able instrument forthe capture of the curious cha-meleon it is worm-shaped, and can bethrust out to a length of several inches with singularrapidity and certainty. The tip iS thickened and slightly. Fig. 112.—Tongue of Chameleon. ANIMALS AND THEIR USES. 165 cup-shaped, and covered with a sticky secretion. Thechameleon i


. Natural history object lessons : a manual for teachers. Pig. 111.—Tongue of the Woodpecker. pointed papillae; but in general it is thin, dry, very pro-tractile, and clefttowards the end. Intwo or three speciesof reptiles, however,the tongue is deve-loped into a remark-able instrument forthe capture of the curious cha-meleon it is worm-shaped, and can bethrust out to a length of several inches with singularrapidity and certainty. The tip iS thickened and slightly. Fig. 112.—Tongue of Chameleon. ANIMALS AND THEIR USES. 165 cup-shaped, and covered with a sticky secretion. Thechameleon is very slow and measured in its general move-ments, but the tongue is very active. The animal does notchase its insect prey ; but watches and waits until the insectcomes within reach, when at first it slowly protrudes itstongue as if taking aim, and then darts it forward withlightning-like rapidity and unerring precision. The preyis held fast by the glutinous secretion and carried into themouth. In the frog, again,the tongue plays the leadingpart in the capture of soft and fleshy tongue ofthis animal, and its ally thetoad, is fixed on the front in-stead of on the back of the floorof the mouth. When in reposethe free end is at the back ofthe mouth, but when the animal ~ ongue o log. puts it out the tip reaches to a considerable distance outsidethe mouth. When the frog sees an insect which he desiresto catch, he approaches within striking distance, and the


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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, books, booksubjectnaturalhistory