This elegant fpecies mofl: generally frequents woods an4 

 orchards, where it may frequently be obferved running up ihq 

 branches of trees in fearch of infers ; thefe it fecures by mean? 

 pf its tongue, which is covered with a thick vifcid exudation^ 

 which completely fecures fuch infects as come in conta£t witl^ 

 it ; ants and their eggs are eagerly fought after as a favourit^ 

 food of this bird ; it reforts to the ant-hills, into the crevices 

 of which it introduces its tongue, which eafily penetrates by 

 having its tip of a harder fubftance than the other parts ; the 

 infedis being thus roufed endeavour to efcape, but fuch as 

 endeavour to crofs.the tongue are fure to adhere and are imme- 

 diately drawn out and devoured. 



The Wryneck makes its neft in the hole of a tree, at the 

 bottom of which, little elfe is to bq found than the decayed 

 parts of the tree, on thefe it lays eight or ten beautiful femi- 

 txanfparent white eggs ; durjng the time of incubation it i§ 

 very tenacious of its retreat, and if an attempt be made to 

 moleft it, boldly ftrikes at the offender with its hill ; at thi| 

 time it ereds its creft, and utters a loud hiffing noife, and 

 fhould the male bird be at hand, it will frequently flutter 

 round the intruder, uttering a piercing fcream not unlike 

 that of the Keftrel Hawk ; it is alfo obferved to make thi? 

 call on its firft arrival in this country, but ufually difcontinues 

 }t as foon as the female begins to fit. 



The name of Wryneck has been given to this bird from its, 

 continual habit of writhing and twilling its neck, particularly 

 when alarmed, its tongue is thrufl out, and it continues thefe 

 paotions for an hour together whilft difturbed. 



Notwithftanding 



