54 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



wrii^-^os in very similar manner to a snake, and from, 

 this pecuHai" movcmeiit the Wryneck is knoxvn in many 

 districts as the '^snake^bird"; but tins name also applies 

 to the plumag'e, since this bird is arrayed in feathers some- 

 what resembling- the common snake in colour and g-eneral 

 an-:iii<;'ement. 



It is a plain g-reyish-eoloured l»ird, })eneilled; barred, 

 and mottled with brown in a most elegant manner, and 

 darker upon the back and win^s. The chin and throat are 

 yellowish-white, and the breast white, all barred trans- 

 versely with l)lack. The female greatly resembles the 

 male, though the })lumage is not generally so bright. 



The flight of the bird is very dull and heavy in com- 

 parison to its size. Yet it is migratory, leaving this 

 country in September, and returning about the beginning 

 of April, just before the cuckoo ; and from this circum- 

 stance is derived its local name of " cuckoo's mate.'' It is 

 also known as_the " tong ue bir d,'' from the fact of its 

 tono[ue being particularly long, and of a silvery appearance. 

 This is the more noticeable when the bird is in pursuit of 

 its f^iod, as the organ is darted out in a most rapid manner, 

 and withdrawn just as suddenly, seldom having- missed 

 securing the obj(>et aimed at. 



The general_haiuit of the \\ ryn^-k is upon a sunny 

 bank or the dea dl)raneli of a tree. Although it sometimes 

 ascends the trunks of trees, it does not_use its tail as a 

 support, the same as the Creej2er or the Woodj^ecker, but 

 general lyj-ims along- the branches in se ar ch of the va riou s 

 insects or larvae secreted in the bark, though the, jirineipal 

 foQiL consists of aivts and their _eggs. Even though the 

 beak is differently constituted from that of the Wood- 

 pecker tribe, this bird a])pears to be the link between those 



