THE COMMON WRYNECK 125 



cage, and never appeared to show impatience during 

 its confinement ; it was observed always to take its 

 food by throwing out its long tongue." 



During the winter the wryneck seems to visit all 

 parts of India, except possibly the Malabar coast, 

 and it is sufficiently common in South India to have 

 a Tamil name — Moda nulingadu. 



The wryneck breeds neither in the plains of India 

 nor, I believe, in the Himalayas, but its nest has been 

 recorded in Kashmir. It busies itself with parental 

 duties in the summer — in May and June in England — 

 laying its glossy white eggs in a hollow in a tree. 

 Unlike the woodpecker the wryneck does not hollow 

 out its hole for itself. It is sensible enough not to 

 undertake that which can be equally well done by 

 others. In this respect, as in so many others, it differs 

 from the woodpeckers proper. 



