io8 



THE SWAN AND HER CREW. 



" Let her go, and take two of the eggs ; I know Frank hasn't 

 got any." 



Dick did so, and then moistening the piece of mud which he 

 had removed, in a little pool which was near, he fixed it very 

 neatly in its proper place again. 



Proceeding a little further, they saw a bird about as big as a 

 nuthatch, but very different in appearance. It had a curiously 

 mottled and brown-lined back. Every now and then it de- 

 scended to the ground, and flew back again to a hole in a 



WkYNtCK 



decayed poplar, varying the journey with wanderings up and 

 down the trunk of that and adjacent trees. As it did so, it 

 stretched forth its head and twisted its neck about in a very 

 peculiar fashion. 



"That can be nothing else but a wryneck," said Jimmy, 

 noticing its movement. " Its nest must be in that hole ; but 

 what is it picking from the ground ? " 



