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What has been said explains why, among birds, those that are most
capable of pronouncing letters are such as have the broadest
tongues; and why the viviparous and sanguineous quadrupeds, where
the tongue is hard and thick and not free in its motions, have a
very limited vocal articulation. Some birds have a considerable
variety of notes. These are the smaller kinds. But it is the birds
with talons that have the broader tongues. All birds use their tongues
to communicate with each other. But some do this in a greater degree
than the rest; so that in some cases it even seems as though actual
instruction were imparted from one to another by its agency. These,
however, are matters which have already been discussed in the
Researches concerning Animals.
As to those oviparous and sanguineous animals that live not in the
air but on the earth, their tongue in most cases is tied down and
hard, and is therefore useless for vocal purposes; in the serpents,
however, and in the lizards it is long and forked, so as to be
suited for the perception of savours. So long indeed is this part in
serpents, that though small while in the mouth it can be protruded
to a great distance. In these animals it is forked and has a fine
and hair-like extremity, because of their great liking for dainty
food. For by this arrangement they derive a twofold pleasure from
savours, their gustatory sensation being as it were doubled
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