98 THE BRITISH NATURE BOOK 



site of leaves, bracken, moss, etc., lined with feathers. Many more nests are 

 built than are used. These are unlined, and are supposed to be built by the 

 cock bird for roosting places ; but I have known them to be furnished 

 completely (with feathers) some weeks after they were finished, and appar- 

 ently abandoned. The eggs, from five to ten, are white with red-brown 

 speckles. The food consists of wood-lice, spiders, insects, and their larvae; 

 in the winter of seeds and other minute particles which the Wren may be seen 

 searching for methodically in shrubberies and hedgerows, as well as farmyards. 

 The strange fallacy still remains popular that the Wren is the hen Robin ! As 

 a matter of fact, it is far more akin in structure to the Dipper, and occasionally 

 has been seen to enter shallow water and hunt beneath its surface like that 

 bird. 



Wryneck " CUCKOO'S MATE." The last of this first group of birds 

 approximating to a Sparrow is distinguished by the beautiful mottled greys 

 and browns of its plumage, which reminds one of the Nightjar. The upper parts 

 (male) are of silver-grey freckled with darker colour ; the crown adorned with 

 bars of chestnut and white spots ; brown wings with checks of chestnut. The 

 under parts are a rich buff with dark bars and lines ; a large broad tail. The 

 female is rather duller and smaller than its mate. 



The bird has the " zygodactylous " feet of the Woodpecker that is, two 

 toes in front and two behind ; a long, protrusible tongue, and an erectile crest. 

 It is a rare summer visitor, except in South-east England, Essex to Hants ; in 

 the latter county, at any rate, it is fairly common, generally arriving in May. 



The nest is a natural hole in a tree, but I have often seen it in a nesting box. 

 No material is used unless the bird has adapted another bird's old nest, such 

 as the Starling's. Seven to fourteen eggs of a glossy whiteness are laid, but not 

 so glossy as the Lesser Woodpecker's. The bird feeds on ants and other insects ; 

 in autumn on berries. 



The Wryneck gains its name from its habit of twisting its long, lithe neck 

 from side to side, almost with a snake-like motion. The pretty name, " Cuckoo's 

 Mate," comes from the observed habit of the bird's arrival about the same time 

 as the Cuckoo. Its call-note, " Pee-pee-pee-pee-pee " (like the Lesser Wood- 

 pecker's), is a welcome sound in spring. When disturbed sitting, the hen 

 hisses like a serpent, almost too realistically. If held in the hand, the bird 

 writhes its head, erects its crest, darts out its tongue, as if imitating a snake, 

 or it will even feign death with closed eyes. 



