BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 517 



triangular spots of dark brown. Legs, toes, and 

 claws brown. 



The female is somewhat duller in her colora- 

 tion. 



Situation and Locality. In holes in trees and 

 posts, at varying heights from the ground and at 

 differing depths. The deserted hole of a Woodpecker 

 is a favourite site. In open woodlands, parks, trees 

 growing by brooks, roads, and in fields ; in the 

 south and east of England. It is scarce in the west 

 and north, and more so in Scotland and Ireland. 



Materials. Generally the decayed and powdered 

 wood at the bottom of the hole selected. Occa- 

 sionally it is said to contain other materials, such 

 as moss, wool, hair, or feathers, but these might 

 have been previously deposited by some other bird, 

 as the Wryneck is not averse to using a hole so 

 furnished. My friend, Mrs. Patterson, of Limpsfield, 

 tells me that Wrynecks sometimes turn even the 

 Great Tit out of a nesting box in her grounds, and 

 after getting rid of the eggs of the rightful owner, 

 lay in the nest. 



Eggs. Six to ten, generally seven or eight, pure 

 white, unspotted, and often mistaken for those of 

 the Lesser Woodpecker, from which they differ, 

 however, in being a trifle larger. A sight of the 

 parent birds is the only certain method of identi- 

 fication. Average size about .85 by .63 in. 



Time. May and June. 



Remarks. Migratory, arriving in April, and 

 leaving in September. Note : a betraying peel, peel, 

 peel, uttered about nine times in unbroken succession. 

 Local and other names : Snake Bird, Cuckoo's Mate, 

 Tongue Bird, Emmet Hunter, Long Tongue, 

 Barking Bird. Sits closely, and hisses. 



