116 



and "Wales, becoming scarcer towards tlie north of England. 

 In Scotland about ten examples have been recorded from 

 as far north as the Orkney Islands. To Ireland it is a very 

 rare visitor, about three specimens having been noted, none 

 of which have been preserved. 



General distribution. The Green Woodpecker inhabits 

 the greater part of Europe, ranging up to about 63 N. 

 latitude in Norway, and in Ttns-ia from St. Petersburg 

 eastwards to the Urals, Caucasus, A?ia Minor, and north 

 Persia ; southwards it is found in the French Pyrenees, 

 Italy, and the Balkan Peninsula. Several races have been 

 recognised, founded on very slight differences. A paler race 

 occurs in south-west Persia, and in Spain and Portugal 

 tho more distinct form P. v. sharpii is met with. 



Genus IYNX Linnantg, Syst. Nat. 1758, p. 112. 

 Type : /. torquilla Linn. 



Iynx='ivyK, the Wryneck, in classical Greek, from its cry sounding like the 

 exclamation iv, whence iiw = I shout. 



lynx torquilla. WRYNECK. 



Jynx torquilla Linnceus, Syst. Nat. 1758, p. 112 : 

 Sweden. 



lynx torquilla Linn.; _B. 0. U. List, 1st ed. 1883, p. 80; 

 Hargitt, Cat. Birds _B. M. xviii. 1890, p. 560; SaunJers, 

 Manual, 2nd ed. 1899, p. 271. 



TorgmUa=the bird that twists its head round; from torqueo=-I twist. 



Distribution in the British Islands. A regular Summer 

 Visitor from the middle of March or April until the end of 

 September. It is chiefly met with in the south-eastern 

 counties, becoming scarcer in the south-west and rare in 

 Wales, Cheshire, and Yorkshire, while in Lancashire, Cum- 

 berland, and Northumberland it is accidental and no longer 

 breeds in the two first-named counties. In Scotland it is 

 a scarce passage-migrant on the east coast, especially in 



