G6 WRYNECK. 



April, a few days before the Cuckoo, whence one of its pro- 

 vincial names. It takes its departure the end of August or 

 beginning of September. On the Continent it is an inhabitant 

 of the colder parts, during the summer months. 



The Wryneck is not a shy bird, and, if disturbed, flies only 

 to a short distance. It has a curious habit, whence its name, 

 of turning its head and neck about in an odd manner, first 

 extending the former forwards, then moving it slowly awry 

 from side to side, and even twisting it quite round, when the 

 black line on the back of the neck adds to its peculiar 

 appearance, accompanying this singular proceeding with a 

 fanning of the tail, and a bowing and scraping of the whole 

 body, uttering the while a croaking sound. These postures, 

 however, are only performed by the old birds, who also, at 

 times, express their feelings by a puffing out and distention, 

 in apparent excitement, of the feathers of the head and throat, 

 and this they also do if approached in the nest, making at 

 the same time a hissing noise, the origin, probably, of their 

 provincial name of Snake-bird, unless indeed it be derived from 

 the writhing motion of the head and neck. The young are 

 easily tamed. 



More than a pair of Wrynecks are not, except by accident, 

 seen together. They are unsocial birds, solitary except during 

 the breeding season. Orchards, gardens, coppices, plantations, 

 and, occasionally, trees in the open fields, are their resorts. 

 For the most part they may be seen on an ant-hill, a bank, or 

 the lower branches of a middle-sized tree, giving a preference 

 to a leafless or a dead one, a low bush, or a hedge-row. 



The Wryneck does not, in general, fly far at a time, but 

 only from one bush or tree to another, and its flight is rather 

 awkward than otherwise. It roosts in some hole of a tree. 

 On the ground it moves by hopping, and, though it supports 

 itself against the trunk of a tree, like the Woodpeckers, yet 

 does not move forwards in that position. 



Its food consists principally of ants, and their eggs and 

 larvai. These it obtains by means of its long projectile tongue, 

 to the glutinous substance on which they adhere, having first, 

 if necessary, shaken with its bill their house about their ears, 

 and so dislodged and collected them together; otherwise, if 

 the earth be hollow, the hard-tipped tongue, which is two 

 inches and a quarter in length, is thrust into the interstices, 

 and the tenants extracted: not a little earth is also swallowed 

 with them. It also feeds on other insects, and Bechstein 



