WRYNECK. 333 



Wryneck, Gen. Syn. ii. 548. pi. 24. Id. Sup. 103. Br. Zool. i. No. a3. Id.fol. 80. 

 t. F. G. Id. Ed. 1812. 312. pi. 22. Arct. Zool. ii. 267. B. F/or. Scot. i. No. 69. 

 JFitf. J£ng7. 138. pi. 22. Collins Birds, pi. 6. f. 5. 6. Graves Orn. i. pi. 13. Id. 

 Eggs, vol. i. Bewick, i. pi. p. 111. .4/6. i. pi. 11. Leivin, ii. t. 45. /</. Eggs, t.viii. 

 f. 2. iVaf. Mjc. pi. 156. Walcot, i. pi. 44. Donou, iv. pi. 83. Orn. Diet. 



THOUGH the colours of the Wryneck are but few, and not at 

 all gaudy, yet their being blended together in a most beautiful 

 manner, gives it an elegant appearance ; size nearly that of a Lark ; 

 length seven inches ; weight ten drachms. Bill three quarters of an 

 inch long, and of a pale lead-colour : irides hazel ; the tongue, when 

 extended, measures two inches and a quarter in length, but is 

 retractile within the bill at pleasure ; * as to the plumage, a list of 

 black and ferruginous streaks divides the top of the head and back ; 

 the sides of the head and neck are ash-colour, beautifully traversed 

 with fine lines of black and reddish brown ; the quills are dusky, 

 but each web marked with rust-coloured spots ; the chin and breast 

 light yellowish brown, adorned with sharp-pointed bars of black; 

 the tail feathers broad at the ends, weak, of a pale ash-colour, 

 powdered with black and red, and marked with four, equidistant, 

 black bars ; legs brown. 



The female is paler in colour, otherwise like the male. 



It makes use of hollow trees wherein to deposit the eggs, for it 

 forms no nest, but places the eggs on the rotten wood ; the number 

 generally from eight to ten ; they are perfectly white as ivory, and 

 the shell so transparent, that the yolk may be distinguished within ;f 

 although the feet are seemingly made for climbing, it is very rarely 

 observed to run up the trees like the Woodpecker ; its gait is both 

 that of walking and hopping ; it is curious to observe them on a grass 

 plat, thrusting their tongue into the turf in quest of ants and their 



* On drawing out the tongue and returning it, in fresh-killed birds, the crest will be 

 erected and depressed, in the same manner as in the Woodpecker, from the root of it being 

 connected.— See Will. t. 21. Phil. Trans, v.xxix. p. 509. tab. 1. 



f Weight 37 grains. — Montagu, 



