THE COMMON WRYNECK 123 



rule, while with the wryneck the reverse holds good. 

 Once, at Lahore, I nearly trod upon a wryneck that 

 was feeding on the ground. It flew from between 

 my boots to a low bush hard by ; then it descended 

 to the ground and began to feed in the grass. I crept 

 towards the place where it was feeding, and it did not 

 again take to its wings until I was close up to it. 

 This time it flew to a branch of a tree about ten feet 

 above the level of the ground. I again followed 

 up the wryneck. This time it allowed me to walk 

 right up under it, and study the dark cross-bars 

 on its tail feathers. After a little time it betook itself 

 to a bunker on the golf hnks, from off which it began 

 to pick insects. Then it flew to a low bush, and from 

 thence dropped to the ground. I again followed it 

 up, and, as I approached, it quietly walked away. 

 Other naturahsts have found the wryneck in India 

 equally tame. Mr. Blyth says of it : " Instinctively 

 trusting to the close resemblance of its tints to the 

 situations on which it alights, it will lie close and 

 sometimes even suffer itself to be taken by the hand ; 

 on such occasions it will twirl its neck in the most 

 extraordinary manner, rolling the eyes, and erecting 

 the feathers of the crown and throat, occasionally 

 raising its tail and performing the most ludicrous 

 movements ; then, taking advantage of the surprise 

 of the spectator, it will suddenly dart off like an 

 arrow." 



At most seasons of the year the wryneck is a re- 

 markably silent bird. I do not remember ever having 

 heard one utter a sound in India. When, however. 



