WRY-NECKS. 



479 



selves : they strike the trunks of dead trees with their beaks, 

 and these blows, which are heard at a great distance, attract all 

 the Woodpeckers of the neighbourhood. 



Woodpeckers are generally considered noxious birds, because 

 they are supposed to injure the trees of forests and orchards, and 

 for this reason a relentless war is made against them. They should, 

 on the contrary, be protected ; for they destroy innumerable insects, 

 the real enemies of timber. Besides, they scarcely ever attack 

 healthy trees — they reserve their labours for those which are 

 worm-eaten. There are a great number of species of Woodpeckers 

 known, which are spread over the two continents : Europe possesses 

 eight, seven of which live 

 in France either in a set- 

 tled state or as birds of 

 passage. The principal are 

 the Black Woodpecker, 

 the Spotted Woodpecker, 

 and the Grey Woodpecker. 

 Wry-necks owe their 

 name to the curious pro- 

 perty which they possess i||V< n\ 

 of beino' able to twist their ^^JjVferi 

 necks m such a manner 

 as to turn the head in all 

 directions. They repeat 

 this movement every in- 

 stant, especially when sur- 

 prised or angry. At the 

 same time their eyes be- 

 come fixed, the feathers of the head stand up, and the tail 

 expands itself. Like Woodpeckers, they can hang upon trees, 

 and sustain themselves in a vertical position for a long time ; 

 but they are incapable of climbing. The weakness of their 

 beaks does not permit of their boring trees ; therefore they 

 seek their nourishment upon the ground, principally amongst 

 the ant-hills. They lead a solitary existence, which they only 

 relinquish at pairing-time. They possess a characteristic con- 

 fidence, never in the least avoid the presence of man, and 



Fig. 19S.— Wry-necks {i'unx torquilta,Yun-ell). 



