Periodical 
visitant. 
Food. 
110 ZYGODACTYLI. YUNX. Wrywnecx. 
Wryneck.—Yunx torquilla, Linn. 
PLATE 88. Fig. 4. 
Yunx torquilla, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 172.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. v. 1. p. 233.— 
Gmel. Syst. 1. p. 423.—Raii, Syn. p. 44. A. 8.— Will. p. 95. t. 22.—Briss. 
4. p.4.t. 1. f. 1. 
Le Torcol, Buff: Ois. v. 7. p. 84. t. 3.—Id. Pl. Enl. 698. 
Torcol ordinaire, Temm. Man. d’Ornith. v. 1. p. 403. 
Die Wendehals, Bechst. Naturg. Deut. v. 2. p. 1048.—Meyer, Tasschenb. 
Deut. v. 1. p. 127.—Id. Vog. Deut. v. 1. t. Heft. 9. 
Wryneck, Br. Zool. 1. No. 83.—Arct. Zool. 2. p. 267. B.—Will. (Ang.) 
p- 138. t. 22.—Lewin’s Br. Birds, 2. t. 43.—Lath. Syn. 2. p. 548. t. 24. 
—Id. Supp. p. 103.—Mont. Ornith. Dict.—Id. Supp.— Wale. Syn. 1. t. 44. 
_—Pult. Cat. Dorset. p. 6.—Don. Br. Birds, 4. t. 83.—Bewick’s Br. Birds, 
v. 1. t. 111.—Shaw’s Zool. v. 9. p. 143. 
Provincial, Long-tongue, Emmet Hunter. 
The Wryneck is a very regular periodical visitant, and usual- 
ly arrives in England a few days before the appearance of the 
cuckoo. In the southern, eastern, and midland counties, it 
is very equally, but not numerously diffused, in the wooded 
parts of the country. According to Monracu, it is rare on 
the western side of England. In the northern counties, I 
have traced it as far as Morpeth in Northumberland, where 
a few are seen every year. Its arrival is soon made known 
by its peculiar and oft-repeated note, which rather resembles 
that of the kestrel, and other small species of hawks.—The _ 
chief food of the wryneck consists of ants and their larve ; 
and we accordingly find, that, at the period of its arrival, the 
hybernation of these remarkable insects has yielded to the in- 
fluence of the vernal sun, and the societies are busily employ- 
ed near the surface of their little mounds in the various du- 
ties, so admirably described by Huser, and the authors of 
the “ Introduction to Entomology.” Its departure is also 
regulated by the same laws, as it leaves us when these insects, 
upon the approach of autumn or cold weather, again retire to 
the recesses of their subterraneous habitations. A very inte- 
resting description of this bird is given in the Ornithological 
