THE WRYNECK 



way as its kindred. It is also much more frequently seen 

 in isolated trees, in gardens and orchards, and shows a 

 decided preference for open yet well-timbered ground 

 rather than woods. Its shrill, loud, far-sounding cry of 

 heel-heel-heel soon proclaims its presence in spring ; and 

 although it is not so secretive as the Woodpeckers it is 

 very apt to be overlooked. It is by no means sociable, and 

 although probably paired for life the sexes do not keep 

 very close company except during the breeding season. 

 It obtains a good deal of its food from the timber, but 

 never climbs about the trunks in quest of it, perching 

 across the bark, and very often alighting in the slender 

 branches. It often visits the ground, hopping like a 

 Woodpecker, and frequents ant-hills to prey upon the 

 insects and their larvae. If disturbed it hurries away in 

 undulating flight to the nearest trees. Many insects are 

 also picked from the leaves and slender twigs ; others are 

 actually chased in the air. Although it lives almost 

 exclusively on small insects and their larvae, it is said 

 occasionally to eat elderberries ; and it never seems to 

 bore into the bark or decayed wood in quest of food like 

 its allies, although its bill is quite strong enough to do 

 so. The Wryneck breeds in May and June, and by the 

 end of the latter month it has ceased to call, and remains 

 silent until its departure. Unlike the Woodpeckers, this 

 bird does not excavate a nest-hole, but seeks one amongst 

 the timber already made. This hole may be in a tree 

 of some kind, or even in a dead stump. Sometimes 

 it may be slightly enlarged or altered. At the bottom of 

 this hole, on the powdered wood alone, the female lays 

 from six to ten shining white eggs. The Wryneck rears 

 but one brood in the season, but if the first eggs are 

 removed others will be laid. The parent sits closely, 

 allowing itself to be removed, when it often hisses and 

 shams death, or contorts itself in the most ridiculous 

 manner. The young are tended for some time after 



Q 241 



