424 THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 



The Cuckoo is very widely distributed, one may say, in fact, 

 from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, for it is equally common 

 and well known in western Europe and eastern Asia. In Scan- 

 dinavia it has been met Avith even beyond 70° N. latitude. 



Wryneclc — Yunx. — These peculiar birds are rejiresented in 

 Europe by only one species, though several others occur in 

 Asia and Africa; among the latter is a new species, introduced 

 by Hartlaub, Jynx pulcherricollis {Ibis, 1884, p. 28, pi. iii.), which 

 is distinguished by its upper breast and imder tail-coverts being 

 of a rich ferruginous colour, and nuist be counted among specially 

 beautiful birds ; at the same time the j^hunage of our native 

 species, though only ranging through an inconspicuous grey, 

 pale rust-colour and black, nevertheless belongs, by reason of its 

 wonderfully delicate markings, to the most attractive of our 

 avifauna. 



226. — "Wryneck [Wendehals]. 



YUNX TORQUILLA, Linn.i 



, Heligolandish : Dreierfink= rHnii'/ir/ or Twisting Bird. 



Yunx torquiUa. Naumann, v. 356. 



Wryneck. Dresser, v. 103. 



Torcol ordinaire. Teiiimiiick, Manuel, i. 403, iii. 284. 



In Austria this bird is known as Natterwindl = Snake-bird — a 

 name which expresses with extraordinary aptness its peculiar, 

 almost ' uncanny,' movements. For, when held by the feet in a sit- 

 ting position on the hand, it neither flutters nor displays the least 

 degree of shyness, but extending and attenuating its neck, turns 

 and twists its head round in such a remarkable manner, that one is 

 involuntarily reminded of a small snake or adder, more especially 

 as the bird, throughout the whole of these movements, remains 

 perfectly dumb. 



This species ranges from Portugal through the whole of Europe, 

 and within the same parallels of latitude through Asia to China, 

 Japan and Kamtschatka. In Heligoland, it is a numerously 

 represented and well-known visitor, both during the spring and 

 autumn migrations. In the north it advances up to central 

 Scandinavia. 



' lynx torquiUa (Linn.). 



