448 



IMCARIAX" BIRDS 



Wryneck 



W rynecks are mainly an African group of aberrant 



^ ~ .,, , iiicmbcrs of the woodpecker tribe, three out of the 

 (lynx torquilla). . , . / , , , 



four species being confined to the southern continent 



of the Old World, while the European bird migrates there for the 

 winter, although the eastern representatives of. that species find a winter 

 home in India. Differing from the woodpeckers in having tail- 

 feathers of the ordinary soft t}'pe, the wryneck, snake-bird, or cuckoo's 

 mate, as it is indifferenth' called, represents a second subfamily of the 

 Picidae known as the I)-nginac. In addition to the soft tail-feathers, 

 the wryneck also differs from the more typical woodpeckers in the open 

 nostrils, which are not overshadowed by feathers, as well as from all 

 members of that group in the colouring of the plumage, which is more 



MOUNTED Ih THE ROWtANO WARD STUDIOS 



WKVNKCK (MALK). 



like that of a nightjar, and renders its wearer almost invisible on a 

 lichen-clad tree-stem. This departure from either form of the wood- 

 pecker t}'pe of colouring on the part of the wrj'ncck is probabl}- due 

 to the severally different habits of the two groups of birds, the wr}neck 

 seldom ascending tree-trunks in true wood[:)ecker-fashion, but frequenting 

 low isolated trees rather than tall forest-timber, and occup\'ing a nest- 

 hole at no great height above the grouiul. It may even be found 

 among grass or low brush, in all of which situations the harmony 

 between its colouring and its surroundings is wonderfulK' close. 



In the male the general colour of the upper surface is rufous brown, 

 streaked on the nape, sides of the head, back, and scapular region with 

 brownish black, and finely stippled all over with grey dots, which give 

 a speckled appearance to the feathers ; the tail is barred with well- 

 defined dusky lines ; the dark brown quills have buff bars on their 

 entire webs ; the throat is warm buff narrowly barred with black ; and 



