THE CUCKOOS. 423 



their untiring couree. It also frequents ant-hills, especially when the 

 insects are bringing out their pupae to lie in the sun, and swallows ants 

 and pupse at a great pace. When the ants remain within their fortress 

 the Wryneck pecks briskly at the hillock until it breaks its way through 

 the fragile walls of the nest, and as the warlike insects come rushing 

 out to attack the intruder of their home and to repair damages, it 

 makes an excellent meal of them in spite of their anger and their 

 stings. 



When ants are scarce and scantily spread over the ground, the 

 Wryneck runs after them in a very agile fashion ; but when it comes 

 upon a well-stocked spot, it stands motionless, with the exception of the 

 head, which is darted rapidly in every direction, the neck and central line 

 of the back twisting in a manner that reminds the observer of a snake. 

 When captured or wounded it will lie on its back, ruffle up its feathers, 

 erect its neck, and hiss so like an angry serpent that it is in some places 

 known by the name of the Snake-bird. 



The nest of the Wryneck is hardly deserving of that name, being 

 merely composed of chips of decaying wood. The eggs are laid in the 

 hollow of a tree, not wholly excavated by the bird, as is the case with 

 the woodpeckers, its beak not. being sufficiently strong for such a task, 

 but adapted to the purpose from some already existing hole. 



The number of eggs laid by the Wryneck is rather great, as many 

 as ten having often been found in a single nest. In one instance no less 

 than twenty-two eggs were taken at four intervals. Their color is 

 beautiful white with a pinky tinge, not unlike those of the kingfisher; 

 and, as this pink color is produced by the yolk showing itself through 

 the delicate shelly it is, of course, lost when the egg is emptied of its 

 contents. The plumage of this little bird, although devoid of bril- 

 liant hues and decked only with brown, black, and gray, is really 

 handsome, from the manner in which these apparently sombre tints 

 are disposed. 



The Cuckoos constitute a large family, containing several smaller 

 groups and many species. Two representatives of the groups are 

 figured. All these birds have a rather long, slender, and somewhat 

 curved beak, which in some species takes a curve so decided that it 

 gives quite a predaceous air to its owner. Examples of the Cuckoo 

 tribe are to be found in almost every portion of the globe, and are 

 most plentiful about the tropics. 



There are few birds which are more widely known by good and evil 

 report than the common Cuckoo. 



It is well known that the female Cuckoo does not make any nest, 

 but places her egg in the nest of some small bird, and leaves it to the 

 care of its unwitting foster-parents. Various birds are burdened with 

 this charge, such as the hedge-warbler, the pied wagtail, the meadow- 



