WRYNECKS. 263 



chamber like the woodpecker, the strength of the beak being quite inadequate 

 for that purpose. The eggs, nine or ten in number, are laid upon the bare 

 wood; they are of a pure transparent white colour. When surprised upon her 

 eggs, the wryneck defends herself with great spirit, erecting the feathers at the 

 top of her head, and hissing like a snake. 



In provincial language this bird is sometimes called the "Long-tongue" 

 and " Emmet-hunter." The name "wryneck" is given to it from its singular 

 habit of twisting and writhing its neck with odd contortions when alarmed 

 or irritated. 



" The wryneck," says Jerdon, " is found throughout India, except perhaps on 

 the Malabar coast, where I never saw it nor heard of a specimen being pro- 

 cured. It is chietly, perhaps, a cold-weather visitant to the south of India, but 



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I ^n 





mh 



ifc\\ 



Fig. 136.— The W-ryukck {i'linx iorquilla). 



farther north it is said to remain all the year round. It does not climb trees, 

 like the woodpeckers, habitually at least, though it has been seen to do so ; and 

 on such occasions it has been observed to press its tail against the bark. It 

 feeds on various insects, chiefly ants, which it picks off the ground or from the 

 boughs of trees. Its flight is tolerably speedy, and its call-note is peculiarly 

 plaintive, somewhat resembling that of the kestrel. Instinctively trusting to 

 the close resemblance of its tints to the situations on which it alights, it will 

 lie close and sometimes allow itself to be taken by hand. On such occasions 

 it twirls its neck about in the most extraordinary- manner, rolling its eyes and 

 erecting the feathers of its crown and throat, occasionally raising its tail and 



