Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1920-03-26
HOW THE BIRDS OBTAIN FOOD
lWm. C. Fullerl

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AS scarce as "hen's teeth" is an ex-
preston that needs no explanation
when one examines hens mouth,
but how many know that a chickens
tongue is so small as to be almost
useless?
In human beings the tongue is, of
course, the organ used in swallowing
the food, but how do our feathered
friends get the food into the gullet?
Most boys and girls have fed the
chickens many times, but how many
can tell just how the grain is taken
into the mouth, and swallowed?. Let
us watch closely the next time we
have an opportunity, and we will see
that as soon as the grain is seized by
the bill, sharp upward jerk of the
head is given, and this throws the
grain into the muscles of the throat.
In drinking, the bird uses another
method to obtain the water, and most
everyone is familiar with the raising
of the head to allow the water to flow
down the throat, or as the children
often express it, the giving of thanks
for the drink.
That the bill is used in many ways
IN obtaining food will be shown by
what follows. How many have<no-
ticed the small round holes, the size
of pencil, so common in swamps,
dotting the ground here and there?
These were probably made by wood
cock with his long pointed bill, as
he thrust the bill into the soft earth,
searching for grubs.
Now we can ask question as to
what it is that determines the shape
of the bill, and why there should be
such great variety of bills for the
different kinds of birds. With lit
tie thought, the answer is plain,-
it is the nature of the food that de-
termines this. The principle illus
trated is one Of the great principles
of biology, and is called by the scien-
lists, adaptation to function" which
means in simple language, fitness of
the thing for the use to which it is
put.
Among the principal types of bills
may be mentioned one that we are
all familiar with,-the scoop bill of
the duck can bring a quantity Of ma
terial from the bottom of the pond, to
be sorted over at the surface.
Many of our song-birds such as the
bluebird and oriole, possess the long
slender bill which is used in reaching
for the minute insects secreted in
crevices. The hooked beak of the
eagle and other-feshing birds needs
no comment. The sparrow, and the
winter birds. in general, possess
short stout bill for cracking seeds
which thus enables them to obtain
the food inside. The possession of this
type of bill enables the seed-eating
birds to remain North during the
winter, since seeds may be obtained
even at that season, whereas the in
Isectiveorous birds must go South to
seek their food.
Lastly, let us consider the wood
pecker's bill which is so we'll fitted
for it's work that it has been termed
the chisel bill. If you have ever
seen woodpecker rapidly boring in
to an old tree trunk, you can appre-
ciate how handicapped the bird would
be with a weak slender bill, instead
of the strong straight one that he pos
sesses.
These illustrations will serve to
show how wonderful mother nature
has adapted the bills Of cur birds for
their respective functions, and the
next time we see a strange bird, we
should look with care at the bill to
determine, if possible, the food of the
bird.