152 riciD.E. 



The Wryneck is a common bird, and a well known 

 summer visiter to tliis country, arriving in the first or second 

 week of April, and departing by the end of August or early 

 in September. As the Wryneck makes its appearance here 

 about the same time as the Cuckoo, it has from some sup- 

 posed connection with that bird acquired the names of 

 Cuckoo's Mate, and Cuckoo's Maid. Pennant says the 

 Welsh name for this bird (Gwds y gog) means also Cuckoo's 

 attendant ; but it is scarcely necessary to add that, except in 

 the circumstance of the two species arriving here, and again 

 departing hence, about the same period of each spring and 

 autumn, these two birds have indeed scarcely any other point 

 of similarity between them. The Wryneck is, in fact, rather 

 solitary in its habits, being very seldom seen associating with, 

 or even near, any other bird than its own single partner, and 

 that too but for a very limited portion of the year. 



Without any rich or attractive colours in its plumage, the 

 Wryneck is still a handsome bird from the singularly beau- 

 tiful manner in which the various markings and the shades of 

 brown and grey are distributed. It is provided with a long 

 tongue, and with feet similar to those of the Woodpeckers, 

 but has not the stiff tail-feathers like those birds, and is, as 

 might be expected, less of a climber than the species of the 

 genus Picus. It frequents small copses, plantations, or- 

 chards, and fields enclosed with tall hedges. 



This bird is called a Wryneck from the habit it exhibits of 

 moving its head and neck in various directions, sometimes 

 describing parts of circles, at others from side to side, with 

 an undulating motion not unlike the actions of a snake, and 

 in some of the counties of England this bird is called the 

 Snakebird from this circumstance. When found in its re- 

 treat in the hole of a tree, it makes a loud hissing noise, sets 

 up an elongated crest, and writhing its head and neck towards 

 each shoulder alternately, with grotesque contortions, be- 



