WRYNECK. 59 



white spots on the inner web of the first three primaries ; 

 middle toe pectinated ; gape very wide ; rictal bristles strongly 

 developed. Bill dark horn-brown. Legs horn-brown. Length 

 10J in. Female, white spots less distinct and less bright. 

 Young, spots on wing and tail buff. 



Language. It makes a most extraordinary sound, which may 

 be called purring, reeling, spinning, or vibrating ; a good idea 

 may be obtained by vibrating the tongue against the roof of 

 the mouth, only the bird's noise is louder ; it also reminds one 

 of a policeman's rattle, but not so loud. Call-note, " pee-ep." 



Habit. When perched lengthwise not crosswise as in most 

 birds on a dead branch lying on the ground, it provides an 

 instance of protective resemblance, harmonising perfectly with 

 the bark. Chiefly nocturnal, flying round and round like a big 

 moth in the dim light, doubling here and turning there, utter- 

 ing its weird note. 



Food. Moths and cockchafers, principally ; also other kinds 

 of insects. 



Nest. June. One brood. 



Site. On the ground, among bracken ; under brambles ; 

 frequently quite exposed. 



Materials. None. 



Eggs. Two. White; blotched, mottled, clouded, veined and 

 marbled with brown of two or three shades and lilac. 



Family PICIDJE. 



Subfamily lYNGIN^E. 



WRYNECK (lynx torquilla). 



Migrant ; mid-April to September. Most common in the 

 southern and south-eastern counties ; rarer and more local in the 

 North. Rare in Scotland, and almost unknown in Ireland. 



Haunts. Woodland districts. 



Plumage. Upper parts reddish grey, spotted and barred with 

 brown and black ; nape and scapulars streaked with black. 

 Wings tawny brown, finely reticulated with black, and marked 

 with alternate black and yellowish red spots ; under parts pale 

 buffish white barred with dark brown; on breast and belly 

 markings arrow-headed in shape. Tail ashy brown, mottled 

 with black, and barred with black and buff. Bill and legs 

 horn-brown. Length 7 in. Female : upper parts tipped with 

 sandy brown and narrowly barred with black ; wings sandy 

 brown ; smaller than male, and bill shorter. Young more 

 heavily barred on the under parts. 



Language. A sharp rapid whistle, like " dill-ill-ill." Alarm- 

 cry, " tuck," or " kuck." 



