48 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



and others paler, while the chin and throat are sometimes highly tinged 

 with yellow, and at others almost entirely devoid of that colour. 



The Wryneck, or " Cuckoo's-mate," as it is often called in 

 England, is common in Tunisia during the spring and autumn 

 passage, and possibly a few individuals remain and breed in the 

 country, although I have no positive knowledge of their doing so. 

 In winter the species is also occasionally to be met with in the 

 Eegency, as it is in some parts of South Europe, indeed from its 

 not un frequent appearance in Italy during the colder months, one 

 may conclude that a good many individuals of the species winter 

 north of the Mediterranean. In Sicily I have often obtained 

 specimens of the Wryneck in mid-winter. 



The bird is of common occurrence in Algeria, and according 

 to Loche, breeds there. In Marocco, it is also to be met with on 

 passage, but does not seem to be as plentiful as it is further east. 



Owing to its inconspicuous plumage, and to its natural shyness 

 and unobtrusive ways, this bird is not so often noticed as it otherwise 

 would be, but should the opportunity present itself, its habits and 

 peculiar movements are well worth observing, particularly its mode 

 of capturing insects, for which the long retractile tongue of this bird 

 is admirably adapted. Apparently the diet of the Wryneck is 

 composed entirely of insects, which are obtained by the bird both 

 on the branches of plants and on the ground, ants and their eggs 

 forming an important item in its food. The stomachs of those 

 I have examined have generally contained almost exclusively ants, 

 swallowed whole, a few flies being occasionally found in the mass. 



The Wryneck, except in spring, is generally a silent bird, but its 

 note when heard is loud and unmistakable ; it also makes a hissing 

 sound, like that of a snake, which is uttered by the sitting bird. The 

 young, when only a few days old, are said to acquire this hissing note, 

 and to develop the extraordinary habit of writhing the head and neck, 

 peculiar to birds of this genus. 



The Wryneck breeds in the holes of trees, laying from six to ten 

 glossy white eggs, measuring about 19 X 1-1 mm. 



