488 piciDyE. 



that of the Kestrel, and consisting of the notes que, que, que, 

 many times and very rapidly repeated, resound from many 

 a copse, orchard and tall hedgerow in the greater part of 

 England. During the rest of its sojourn it is, however, 

 absolutely mute. As its coming generally precedes by a few 

 days that of the Cuckow, the Wryneck has acquired several 

 local names in connection with that bird, and is very com- 

 monly called the Cuckow's Leader or Cuckow's Mate* ; but 

 it is scarcely necessary to observe that there is no near 

 affinity or point of real similarity between them, nor does 

 the Wryneck shew any partiality for the company of the 

 species to which it is referred in popular speech. It is 

 altogether solitary in its habits, seldom associating even 

 with its own partner, and that only for a portion of its stay 

 with us. 



Without any bright or attractive colours, the Wryneck is 

 still a beautiful bird, from the harmonious blending of a few 

 sober tints, delicately pencilled with darker shades, which 

 its plumage displays. Its ordinary name comes from its 

 habit of rolling its head and neck in a wonderful way, 

 especially when found on its nest in a hollow tree, when it 

 may easily be captured by any one who cares to try. But 

 the undulating motions of the bird, dimly seen in the gloom 

 of its retreat, with the loud hissing noise it makes, are 

 almost always enough to scare a marauder of inexperience ; 

 for they never fail to suggest, as is doubtless their intention, 

 that the hole into which he is about to thrust his hand has 

 a snake for its tenant, f Becoming thus an object of terror 



• Also Cuckow's Maid, and a writer in the last century says (Gentl. Mag. lxvi. 

 1>. 386) Cuckow's Man. According to Pennant its Welsh name is Gwds y </'>'/, 

 Laving the same signification as the last, and in Scandinavia it also bears names 

 connecting it with the Cuckow. 



t Hence another common name for the species is Snake-bird, paralleled by 

 several German equivalents, among them Nattcrwindd and Natterhah. It is 

 interesting to know that a name of exactly the same meaning as the last {Shay-ling, 

 i.e. Snake's neck) is given to the Wryneck in at lea^t one part of China (Ibis, 

 1875, p. 125). The peculiarity was known to Aristotle, and possibly led to the 

 cruel use of the bird as a love-charm, to which several classical writers refer, as 

 Pindar (Pyth. iv. 214 ; Nem. iv. 35), Theocritus (II. 17, 30) and Xenophon 

 (Mernorab. III. xi. 17, 18). 



