144 



WRYNECK. 



chin and fore-part of the neck yellowish white, 

 crossed with dusky lines : lower part of the breast, 

 belly, and sides white, with small triangular dusky 

 spots : under tail-coverts rufous-white, crossed 

 with dusky lines : tail-feathers broad, rounded at 

 the ends, and of the same colour as the back, with 

 four distinct black bars: legs brown; female much 

 paler. 



There is a variety mentioned by Brisson of this 

 bird, differing from the former in having the head 

 and upper parts ferruginous, beautifully varied 

 with longitudinal lines of yellow : wings and tail 

 the same as the back : legs yellow : claws black. 



The name Wryneck seems to have been given 

 to this bird from its singular manner of turning its 

 head over its shoulder alternately, when the black 

 mark on the back of the neck gives it a twisted 

 appearance ; it also erects all the feathers on the 

 top of the head : its beak seems to be of very little 

 use in procuring subsistence, the tongue being the 

 chief instrument used for that purpose. 



The Wryneck makes a noise very much like the 

 smaller species of Hawks, which it frequently re- 

 peats in the spring, soon after its arrival in this 

 country, which is generally about the middle of 

 April : it makes no nest, but lays its eggs, which 

 are from eight to ten in number, on the rotten 

 wood within ; these eggs are as white as ivory, and 

 weigh about thirty-seven grains. 



If this bird be surprised in its nest, it has a sin* 

 gular action of defence : stretching itself at full 

 length, and erecting the feathers of the head, it 



