109 



nest it has become extremely offensive, owing to the castings being left in it and not carried away 

 by the parents. So soon as the young are hatched the male ceases its Hawk-like call ; and when 

 they are fledged, and are led about by their parents, they live a quiet unobtrusive existence, and 

 are but little noticed or noticeable. 



It is met with breeding in most parts of Northern and Central Europe in suitable localities ; 

 but with us in England it is partially distributed. Mr. A. G. More gives (Ibis, 1865, p. 136) its 

 breeding-range as follows : — " Rare in the northern counties, and apparently much less numerous 

 on the western side of England. Does not breed in Cornwall, and is very rare in Devon. I have 

 no authority more recent than Pennant for its breeding in Wales. Mr. Gregson has only once 

 found the nest in Lancashire; and Mr. Smurthwaite has never seen the bird in North-west 

 Yorkshire. Mr. Gough, however, describes the Wryneck as breeding regularly in Westmore- 

 land; and in Loudon's 'Mag. of Nat. Hist.' (vol. iii. p. 172) it is included among the summer 

 visitors to Carlisle." Owing to the insectivorous nature of its food the present species is one of 

 the most useful of our birds, especially in gardens, where it destroys many of the most noxious 

 insects. 



In the continental markets it is often exposed for sale, especially in the south of Europe, 

 and by those who are accustomed to eat small birds it is said to be a most delicious morsel, 

 especially the young birds when killed in August or September ; but I must confess that I have 

 never myself felt any inclination to test the truth of this assertion. 



The specimen figured and described is an old male shot by myself in Kent. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 



a, <$ . Hampstead, Middlesex, April 28th, 1870 (Davy), b, c, $, d,2t e. Hampstead, May 1870 (Davy). 

 f,2- Hampstead, April 14th, 1870 (R. B. Sharpe). g. Famborough, Kent, May 1857 (H.E.D.). 

 h. Spain (H. Saunders). j,6. Rheinpreussen. i, 6 ■ Piedmont, April 6th, 1870 (Salvadori). k. Sjael- 

 land. I. Crimea (Whitely). m, s . Ortakeuy, Turkey, April 4th, 1869 (Robson). n. Tangier, April 1st, 

 1874 (L. H. Irby). o. Egypt, April 10th, 1868 (E. C. Taylor), p, <S . N.W. India, September 8th, 1868. 

 q,d. Lahore, January 2nd, 1868 (C. Marshall). r, 6 . Punjaub, April 2nd, 1868 (C. Marshall), 

 s. Tientsin, China (Whitely). t. Amoy, April 1861 (jR. Swinhoe). u. Amoy, January 3rd, 1867 

 (R. Swinhoe). 



E Mus. J. II. Gurney, jun. 

 a, 2 . Norwich, May 2nd, 1868. b,juv. Norfolk, 1872. c, tf . Algiers, February 3rd, 1870 (/. H. G.). 



E Mus. H. B. Tristram. 



a. Cambridge, May 1862 (Fox), b. Pagham, August 1866 (Harting) . c. Kingsbury, August 1866 (Harting)^ 

 d. Algiers, April 18th, 1856 (H.B.T.). e, 6 . Palestine, April 1864 (H.B.T.). f. Amoy, China, 

 January 1861 (R. Swinhoe). 



4g2 



