70 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



wriggles in very similar manner to a snake, and from 

 this peculiar movement the Wryneck is known in many 

 districts as the " snake -bird"; but this name also applies 

 to the plumage, since this bird is arrayed in feathers some- 

 what resembling the common snake in colour and general 

 arrangement. 



It is a plain greyish-coloured bird, pencilled, barred, 

 and mottled with brown in a most elegant manner, and 

 darker upon the back and wings. The chin and throat are 

 yellowish-white, and the breast white, all barred trans- 

 versely with black. The female greatly resembles the 

 male, though the plumage is not generally so bright. 



The {light of the bird is very dull and heavy in com- 

 parison to its size. Yet it is migratory, leaving this 

 country in September, and returning about the beginning 

 of April, just before the cuckoo ; and from this circum- 

 stance is derived its local name of t( cuckoo's mate."" It is 

 also known as the " tongue bird," from the fact of its 

 tongue being particularly long, and of a silvery appearance. 

 This is the more noticeable when the bird is in pursuit of 

 its food, as the organ is darted out in a most rapid manner, 

 and withdrawn just as suddenly, seldom having missed 

 securing the object ^aimed at. 



The general haunt of the Wryneck is upon a sunny 

 bank or the dead branch of a tree. Although it sometimes 

 ascends the trunks of trees, it does not use its tail as a 

 support, the same as the Creeper or the Woodpecker, but 

 generally runs along the branches in search of the various 

 insects or larvae secreted in the bark, though the principal 

 food consists of ants and their eggs. Even though the beak 

 is differently constituted to that of the Woodpecker tribe, 

 this bird appears to be the link between those birds and 



