246 OUR SUMMER MIGRANTS. 



Although common in the southern and south- 

 eastern counties of England, the Wryneck is 

 only partially distributed in the British Islands, 

 and the limit of its geographical area is almost 

 coincident with that of the Nightingale before 

 "noticed. In the western and northern counties 

 of England, as well as in Wales, it is compara- 

 tively a scarce bird ; in Scotland it is very rare, 

 and in Ireland quite unknown. Its arrival in 

 April is speedily announced by its loud and oft- 

 repeated cry, which has been likened to the 

 syllable — " dear, dear, dear, dear, dear," and 

 which resembles, though less harsh, the cry of 

 the Kestrel. 



In its mode of nidification, the Wryneck 

 resembles the Woodpeckers, selecting a hole in 

 a tree wherein to deposit its eggs, which are six 

 or seven in number, pure white, and laid with 

 little or no attempt at a nest upon chips of 

 decayed wood at the bottom of the hole. In 

 about three weeks the young are hatched, and 

 both parents take their turn at feeding them, 

 bringing ants and their eggs in mouthfuls, 



