THE WRYNECK 131 



insects and their larvte, especially small caterpillars. But the 

 bird's principal fare, I believe, is ants and their eggs, for ob- 

 taining which it is admirably adapted. Were you to dissect 

 a Wryneck you would find that the two posterior branches of 

 the bones of the tongue are considerably elongated, and the 

 muscles attached to them highly developed, by which means 

 the bird is able to extend its tongue, the tip of which is 

 hard and horny, to a considerable distance beyond the point 

 of the beak. You will also find, in pursuing your investiga- 

 tions further, two long glands beneath the tongue, which open 

 into the mouth and secrete a viscid fluid upon the tongue. 

 After making yourself so far familiar with the little Wry- 

 neck's anatomy, repair to some ant-hill in its haunts, and 

 observe closely its method of obtaining its meal. Mark with 

 what amazing rapidity the tongue is shot forth, and note what 

 part the sticky fluid plays with which it is anointed, by 

 causing the ants to adhere to it. So quick are the movements 

 of the tongue that the eye cannot follow them, and the poor 

 ants and their eggs seem drawn towards it by some magnetic 

 influence. The hard horny tip to the tongue is of service, 

 and enables the bird to explore with that organ the soft earth 

 which conceals its prey. When you still further dissect a 

 bird of this species you will find a small quantity of grit and 

 dirt in its stomach, which circumstance has puzzled not a few 

 naturalists. Its presence here is due to accident alone, and 

 is conveyed into the bird's mouth through sticking to its 

 tongue with the ants. The Wryneck does not, however, 

 obtain all its food from the ant-hills, for it searches the lichen- 

 covered branches and moss-grown decaying stumps, picking 

 out the various insects that lurk in these situations. The 

 Wryneck not only visits the ants' nests, but it watches out 

 for that little insect as it journeys to and fro. I once came 

 across a narrow stream of ants which extended from some 

 barley fields far out into the sand of the Sahara Desert, where 



