THE WRYNECK 141 



pupae especially. It is very courageous in defence of its 

 young and will hiss like a snake if an enemy or intruder 

 approaches its nest. 



Country children in our Home Counties listen eagerly 

 for the call of the Cuckoo's mate, whom Eliza Cook calls 

 " the merry pee bird." They know then that Spring is 

 with us, and out-door pleasures are on the way. It is 

 only the size of a lark, and it is difficult to observe the 

 bird well either on its nest or during its short undulating 

 flight. 



The Wryneck is seven inches in length. It has 

 fine, loose plumage, which recalls that of the Owl or the 

 Night-jar. The throat is clay-colour with fine dark 

 wavy cross lines ; tail a beautiful grey with delicate 

 black speckles, and six broad pointed stripes across it; 

 the under side is covered with brownish-white and black 

 spots, and delicately speckled : from the nape, down the 

 back, about the shoulders, are large black spots. The 

 flight-feathers have rust-red cross stripes; it has two toes 

 towards the front and two towards the back; the legs 

 are short. It makes its nest in any cavity it can find, 

 and in it lays, on soft chaff, its seven to twelve white 

 eggs. The Wryneck, like the Woodpecker, has a long 

 wormlike tongue which can be extended. 



