WRYNECK. 491 



vary from six to ten ; but the Wryneck is one of those birds 

 that may be induced to go on laying many more. In 1833, 

 Salmon by taking the eggs at four different times from the 

 same nest obtained twenty-two from one bird (Mag. Nat. 

 Hist. vii. pp. 465, 466) ; and some years later a like 

 number were removed from one nest in as many successive 

 days by Mr. Pemberton Bartlett (Zool. p. 449). Dillwyu 

 (Fauna and Flora of Sw^ansea, p. 6) mentions twenty-four 

 eggs that were similarly taken near Bristol. More extra- 

 ordinary however are the facts recorded of Mr. Norgate's 

 experience (Zool. s.s. pp. 3227, 5081), for, between May 

 29th and July 13th, 1872, he took forty-two eggs from a 

 Wryneck's nest, and in the following year as many more 

 from the same hole — the produce no doubt of the same bird. 



The young are easily though not often tamed, and are 

 very entertaining in confinement, for they will not only feed 

 from their keeper's hand, but climb over his clothes, probing 

 with their long tongue every fold or opening, and in like 

 manner examine all the furniture of the room, take flies 

 from the window-pane and afford much amusement by their 

 repeated encounters Avith one another (Zool. pp. 435, 436) ; 

 but they do not generally live in captivity without greater 

 care than most persons are able to render. In France, it is 

 said, boys are accustomed to tie a thin string to one of the 

 legs of the bird, and carrying it from tree to tree allow it to 

 search the bark for insects. 



The Wryneck is most common in the south-east of 

 England, decreasing in number westwards, breeding but 

 rarely in Devon, and in Cornwall, says Rodd, only met 

 with in autumn. In Wales it occurs very sparingly, and, 

 so far as has been ascertained by Mr. E. C, Phillips, only 

 in the counties of Glamorgan, Caermarthen, Brecknock 

 and Radnor. Mr. Beckwith says it is very rare in Shrop- 

 shire, it is not included among the birds of Wirral by Mr. 

 Brockholes, and according to Mr. More the nest has been 

 only once found in Lancashire. Mr. W. E. Clarke (Vertebr. 

 Yorkshire, p. 38) says it is extremely local, being confined 

 to the south-east of the West Riding and adjacent part of 



