106 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



which are of great length, are carried, not horizon- 

 tally, but at an angle of about 45° with the line of 

 the body, as shown in fig. 57. This species is called 

 Ichneumonea because of the very considerable 

 resemblance it bears to some of the ichneumon- 

 flies ; in fact, it is so unlike the Muscidso as to be 

 certain to puzzle any one meeting with it for the 

 first time ; and, as it is pretty frequently found, a 

 description may be acceptable. In length (not 

 including antennae) the male is about ■—, the female 

 about -fa of an inch : the body is slender, quite 

 smooth, and polished : the legs, the hinder and 

 lower part of the thorax, and the mouth, are bright 

 red; the remainder of the body is black. The 

 wings are colourless, with black veins ; the legs 

 small ; and the antennas longer than the head. The 

 abdomen of the female is much longer than that of 

 the male, being produced to form a long and pointed 

 ovipositor. This genus, like Tetanocera and Sepe- 

 don, may be at once recognized by the antenna?. 



This sub-family contains many grotesque flies, of 

 which not the least remarkable are those of the 

 genus Micropeza, which, for length and sleuderness 

 of legs may be compared with the Nemocera or 

 long-horned Diptera. 



Some of the ovipositors of the Muscidse are well 

 worth examining, especially the knife-like ones 

 found in the sub-family Ortalides, which can be 

 retracted into the abdomen like a telescope: these 

 require to be drawn out with forceps before they 

 can be fully seen with the microscope. 



This paper gives nothing beyond a mere glance at 

 the Muscidag, aud the insects described are only 

 specimens chosen from an almost bewildering num- 

 ber of forms interesting both generally and micro- 

 scopically. Any one requiring further information 

 frill find the subject minutely treated in the best 

 English work on the Diptera, "Insecta Britannica, 

 part Diptera," by Francis Walker (in English and 

 Latin). Schiner's "Eauna Austriaca, part Dip- 

 tera" (in German), describes a very large number 

 of species, and contains much useful information.' 

 Among other noted works are those of Westwood, 

 Curtis, Macquart, and Meigen. These are expen- 

 sive books, but they may be found at some of our 

 national libraries. 



Frank J. Allen & H. M. J. Underhill. 



i THE WRYNECK. 



{Yunx tor quill a.) 



rpHE peculiarity of structure, the shy and in- 

 ■*■ teresting habits, combined with the sombre, 

 >et beautifully-pencilied plumage of the Wryneck 

 [Time torquilla), are characteristics well calculated 

 to excite inquiry, and the curiosity of all those who 

 are at all partial to the study of the feathered tribes. 

 This bird is one of our numerous summer migrants, 



visiting here at the end of April or beginning of 

 May. It seems to restrict itself more especially to 

 the south and south-east of the country, specimens 

 not having been often seen in the north and more 

 elevated districts. Its partiality to that part of the 

 country which it inhabits may be attributed, in 

 some degree, to the warm and dry climate, where 

 all the minuter and more destructive insects abound ; 

 such as ants, aphides, &c. ; the former beiug the 

 chief objects of subsisteuce to which the Wryneck 

 has recourse, it is quite consistent that the bird 

 should have such a predilection for those localities 

 which it inhabits. In its natural haunts it can 

 easily be distinguished at first sight from all other 

 birds, by a habit peculiar to itself, which seems to 

 be occasioned by a convulsion of surprise, as when 

 engaged over an abundant supply of its favourite 

 food. The body is kept quite still, the neck twists 

 and turns backwards and forwards, while the head 

 is continually swaying from side to side, which gives 

 it more the appearance of a reptile than a bird. It 

 is from this peculiarity that it has earned the appel- 

 lation which it bears ; in fact, almost all its other 

 names in various languages refer to the distortion of 

 the neck : our worthy cousins beyond the Chanuel 

 designate it by the name of Torcol, in Germany 

 Natter-hulz, and in Italy Torto-collo. 



Though the Wryneck cannot boast of the bril- 

 liancy of its plumage, it is so neatly and beautifully 

 mottled with different mural hues, which set off and 

 blend into each other so well, as to make it appear 

 very handsome, even more so than a bird of more 

 gaudy.tints. Above, the ground-colour is a yellowish 

 brown, beautifully variegated with spots of brown 

 and hues of black, somewhat resembling arrow- 

 heads in appearance, and a very distinct mural hue 

 of brown from the nape of the neck down the back. 

 The ground-colour beneath is whitish grey, tinged 

 with a slight rusty tint towards the neck, with 

 arrow-head hues of black, here forming bars ; the 

 tail consists of ten flexible feathers, which ate 

 mottled, and have black edges, as well as two or 

 three waved bars that run across it; the quills are 

 brown, also bound with black. It is about seven 

 inches long, and ten across the wings ; the bill, which 

 is nine or ten lines in length, is slender and pointed. 

 The vocal powers of this bird are very limited, 

 being only a very shrill drawling whistle. 



It belongs to the interesting order Zygodadyles, 

 or "yoke-toed," two of the toes being turned for- 

 ward and two back ; the former are joined at their 

 bases, and the exterior toe in each foot is much 

 longer than the interior. The great forests of the 

 tropics are the chief nurseries for this order ; there 

 they are characterized by their gorgeous colours, 

 great multitudes, and harsh voices ; chief amongst 

 which are the Parrots, Macaws, and Toucans. In 

 this country, we have the Woodpecker, the Wry- 

 neck, and the Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus). Although 



