THE WRYNECK. 219 



with black spots. Its form and habits at once show that it 

 is a wood-pecker, and its diminutive size distinguishes it from 

 the larger spotted one. Its habits are the same as those of 

 the other wood-peckers. 



Another species, the large black wood -pecker, with a 

 scarlet head, about one-half larger than the green, is met 

 with in Britain, but it is as rare as the spotted ones.* 



THE WRYNECK ( TuUX 



The wryneck is a very beautiful summer migrant, which 

 comes regularly a little before the cuckoo, and distributes 

 itself, though not abundantly, through all the south-east of 

 England; but it rarely if ever passes the central heights, 

 unless in single specimens as a straggler. 



. In its general shape, the wryneck has some resemblance to 

 the wood-pecker ; and it also a little resembles the smallest 

 British one in the markings, though not in the tints of its 

 colours. It is also just a little larger than that bird, though 

 not quite so long in the wings. The ground colour above is 

 yellowish brown, beautifully variegated with spots of brown 

 and arrow-head hues of black, and a very distinct mural line 

 of brown from the nape of the neck down the back. The 

 under parts are greyish white, with arrow-head dark spots, 

 that form bars. The quills are brown, bound with black ; 

 and the tail feathers, which are long, but have not the 



* The great black wood-pecker, Picus martius, is a native of the forests 

 of Northern and Eastern Europe, extending its range as far as Siberia. 

 With respect to the lesser spotted wood-pecker, Mr. Gould says, " In 

 England it is far more abundant than is generally supposed ; we have 

 seldom sought for it in vain, wherever large trees, particularly the elm, 

 grow in sufficient numbers to invite its abode. Its security from sight is 

 to be attributed to its habit of frequenting the topmost branches, rather 

 than to its rarity. Near London it is very common, and may be seen by 

 an attentive observer in Kensington Gardens, and in any of the parks 

 in the neighbourhood." Its spring-call closely resembles that of the 

 wryneck. M. 



