IOO 



THE BIRDS OF THE WOODS 



houses in which such delicacies are attainable. During its autumnal migration, 

 which begins in August, this bird will visit fields planted with vegetables, and is 

 quite content to rest in a solitary tree, or even in some low bush. It returns 

 about the middle or in the second half of April from the south of Europe or the 

 north of Africa, and lavs its eggs about the middle of May in the hole of a tree 



which it finds suitable to its 

 purpose, or even in a box 

 hung up for the purpose of 

 attracting birds to nest. 

 Frequently a layer of moss 

 or hair is placed by the 

 parent bird in the hole as a 

 cushion for the eggs. 



This interesting bird not 

 only creeps up trees like a 

 woodpecker, but clings to 

 their hark in a manner 

 peculiarly its own, as it runs 

 up and down in search of 

 insects. If another bird 

 approach, the wryneck drives 

 it away by bristling up the 

 feathers of its head, stretch- 

 ing out and drawing back its 

 neck, writhing its head like a 

 snake, and darting its beak 

 backwards and forwards, at 

 the same time spreading out 

 its tail like a fan, bowing 

 and swaying and rolling its 

 eyes, and accompanying these 

 gestures, which might almost 

 be taken for convulsions, 

 with a peculiar sound in its 

 inflated throat. When two 

 male wrynecks fight, they 

 gesticulate in the same pecu- 

 liar manner. The wryneck 

 ranges as far north as the middle of Sweden, and eastwards through northern 

 Asia to Japan. In Europe it is found on the heaths of central and south Russia, 

 though it has there to content itself with the few trees along the river valleys. 



THE WRYNECK. 



Nightjar. 



A very different type of bird are the nightjars, or goatsuckers, 

 which may be readily recognised by their soft and loose plumage, 

 large flat heads, great staring eyes, long pointed wings, long tails, wide gapes, and 

 very short beaks, which are almost entirely concealed by feathers. 



