THE WRYNECK 
way as its kindred. It is also much more frequently seen 
in isolated trees, in gardens and orchards, and shows a 
decided preference for open yet well-timbered ground 
rather than woods. Its shrill, loud, far-sounding cry of 
heel-heel-heel soon proclaims its presence in spring; and 
although it is not so secretive as the Woodpeckers it is 
very apt to be overlooked. It is by no means sociable, and 
although probably paired for life the sexes do not keep 
very close company except during the breeding season. 
It obtains a good deal of its food from the timber, but 
never climbs about the trunks in quest of it, perching 
across the bark, and very often alighting in the slender 
branches. It often visits the ground, hopping like a 
Woodpecker, and frequents ant-hills to prey upon the 
insects and their larve. If disturbed it hurries away in 
undulating flight to the nearest trees. Many insects are 
also picked from the leaves and slender twigs; others are 
actually chased in the air. Although it lives almost 
exclusively on small insects and their larve, it is said 
occasionally to eat elderberries; and it never seems to 
bore into the bark or decayed wood in quest of food like 
its allies, although its bill is quite strong enough to do 
so. ‘Che Wryneck breeds in May and June, and by the 
end of the latter month it has ceased to call, and remains 
silent until its departure. Unlike the Woodpeckers, this 
bird does not excavate a nest-hole, but seeks one amongst 
the timber already made. ‘This hole may be in a tree 
of some kind, or even in a dead stump. Sometimes 
it may be slightly enlarged or altered. At the bottom of 
this hole, on the powdered wood alone, the female lays 
from six to ten shining white eggs. ‘The Wryneck rears 
but one brood in the season, but if the first eggs are 
removed others will be laid. ‘The parent sits closely, 
allowing itself to be removed, when it often hisses and 
shams death, or contorts itself in the most ridiculous 
manner, ‘The young are tended for some time after 
Q 241 
