A^'D NEIGHBOURHOOD. 273 



bird feeds exclusively on insects, and we have never 

 heard it accused of any depredations in orchards or 

 on fruit of any kind. We have never kept any of 

 these Little Woodpeckers in confinement, and every 

 attempt to do so that has come to our knowledge has 

 resulted in disastrous failure, although, no doubt, it 

 is to be done. The great difficulty with all purely 

 insectivorous birds is, of course, in the first place, 

 the procuring a constant supply of their natural food 

 or an acceptable substitute for it, but it appears to 

 us that besides this difficulty, which may in some 

 instances be conquered, it is absolutely essential to 

 their health that they should have a considerable 

 amount of exercise in seeking for their food, and, 

 except in large open-air aviaries, this is not easily 

 managed. We have met with the present species 

 in France, Northern Germany, Italy, Switzerland, 

 European Turkey, and Spain, but nowhere in such 

 abundance as about Lilford. 



114. WRYNECK. 



Yunx torquilla. 



This, though never, in our experience, very abun- 

 dant in our neighbourhood, is a tolerably common 

 and well-known spring visitor, generally making its 

 appearance within a few days before or after April 10, 

 and immediately announcing its presence by a cry 

 which bears a resemblance to that of the species last 

 described, and a still greater resemblance to that of 

 the young Hobby {Faico suhhuteo). From its arrival 

 about the same time as the Cuckoo this bird has 

 gained the nickname of " Cuckoo's mate" in many if 



T 



