"As the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them."—Ecclesiastes ix.
1042. Why have snipes and woodcocks long tapering bills?
Because they live upon worms which they find in the soft mud of streams and marshy places; their long bills, therefore, enable them to dig down into the mud after their prey.
1043. Why have woodcocks, snipes, &c., nerves running down to the extremities of their bills?
Because, as they dig for their prey in the soft sand and mud, they cannot see the worms upon which they live. Nerves are, therefore, distributed to the very point of their bills (where, in other birds, nerves are entirely absent) to enable them to prehend their food.
Fig. 67.—SPOONBILL.