BARBETS 53 



The South African Wryneck (lynx ruficollis) is of a general 

 speckled brown colour; chin, throat and upper breast chestnut. 



This bird is not common, and was forrnerty popularly 

 supposed to be a migrant, but we have procured specimens 

 during winter and summer. 



The tail of this bird does not resemble those of the Wood- 

 peckers, but is soft and pliable like those of the Passerine 

 birds. Length, 7 inches. 



Fig. 27. — South African Wryneck. 



The Wryneck nests in holes in trees, laying elongated 



white eggs. 



BARBETS 



The members of the family Capitonidce have stout and 

 strong bills, thereby differing from the Woodpeckers which 

 have a longer, thinner type of beak. 



They hew holes in trees and lay white eggs like the Wood- 

 peckers, but have not stiff and spiny-like tail-feathers. 



The Black-collared Barbet (Lybius torquatus) is perhaps 

 the largest member of the family. It is brown above with 



