(ae. ) 
the wings. This pretty Piculet is just as interesting to watch as 
the Rufous species, though it may not appear quite so tame. It is 
easier discovered in the out-skirts of forests which it is more partial 
to than when within thick undergrowth. It is often seen, hunting 
for insects, wren-like, among fallen logs, moss grown and decaying 
wood, or where cattle, of hill gowalas’ bathans, are won't to graze. 
Sup-Famity YUNGINAR (Wrynecks) 
Are fairly plentiful in the plains, they may be seen, usually, 
where insects abound, hunting for them on land, perhaps more fre- 
quently near ant-hills. The bill is short, conical, aid with a rounded 
appearance ; wings pointed; tail broad and flexible; tarsus short ; 
toes in pairs; tongue like Woodpeckers long and extensile, sharp 
and pointed ; plumage soft. 
(188) YUNX TORQUILLA, Common Wryneck, is somber in colour, 
but beautifully speckled. I cannot do better than quote the follow- 
ing lines from Blyth about this peculiar little bird: “TInstinctively 
trusting to the close resemblance of its tints to the situation on 
which it alights, it will le close, and sometimes even suffer itself to 
be taken by the hand: on such occasions, it will twirl its neck in the 
most extraordinary manner, rolling the eyes and erecting the feathers 
of the crown and throat, occasionally raising its tail, and performing 
the most ludicrous movements; then taking advantage of the sur- 
prise of the spectator, it will suddenly dart off like an arrow,” such 
is our Indian Wryneck, and it would be difficult to find a more 
accurate description of this bird. It rarely climbs on trees like 
Woodpeckers. It feeds on the ground, on ant-hills preferably. Very 
little difficulty need be experienced in making its acquaintance, more 
so on account of the peculiar habit it has of turning and twisting 
its head backwards and looking over its shoulders, as it were, or 
rather back. The Wryneck is 7% inches in length; with crimson 
irides; upper plumage is grey, prettily speckled; breast and below 
dull yellowish white with narrow cross-lines followed by triangular 
black spots; quills barred deep brown and isabella; tail speckled 
erey; dark brown stripes on hind neck. These few markings 
together with its peculiar habits will suttice to recognise the common 
Wryneck. 
