50 



ON PROCURING SPECIMENS OF THE 



which the back is of a lively green, and the moustaches rich crimson, 

 some being much handsomer than others: the back of the female 

 should be a fine clear grey ; and the young handsomely mottled, before 

 it has begun to cast its feathers. 



The wryneck (Yunx torquilld) should be procured early in the 

 spring ; the sooner after its arrival the better, as it is apt to become 

 dirty. The elegant markings of this species being in some individuals 

 much more beautifully defined than in others, several specimens should 

 be shot, and the finest of them selected for stuffing. The sexes are 

 equally handsome, and sufficiently dissimilar to require a specimen of 

 each to be preserved. This bird's attitudes should be carefully studied ; 

 they are extremely peculiar, and totally unlike those of any other 

 British species. It is a mistaken notion to suppose that the wryneck 

 is unable to climb ; it runs up trees with as much facility as a wood- 

 pecker, though it is not often seen to do so : in the pairing season, it is 

 a curious sight to observe the male and female toying, and following 

 each other a^bout on a large tree ; often running spirally up the bole, 

 and occasionally exhibiting the strangest and most unaccountable 

 attitudes. Those who have winged, or otherwise slightly wounded one 

 of these birds, will not easily forget the singular snake-like manner in 

 which it twirled its neck when it was handled ; its crest erect, and the 

 feathers of its long neck depressed as closely as possible. A bird of 

 this species was brought to me last August, that had been winged in 

 the spring, and had supported itself in the interim in the garden of one 

 of my neighbours, its wound having healed up to all appearance, though 

 it was quite unable to fly. For the satisfaction of seeing it climb I, 

 placed it on the trunk of a pear-tree, which it immediately ascended, 

 with ease and celerity, by repeated springs, in the manner of a wood- 

 pecker. It seemed fearless, and exceedingly pugnacious : when placed 

 upon the ground its attitudes were most extraordinary, appearing more 

 like an automaton figure set in motion by machinery than a living bird. 

 The most detailed description would convey no adequate idea of its awk- 

 ward appearance ; sometimes it would stretch itself out at full length, its 

 chin, throat, breast, and belly touching the ground, and suddenly spring 

 backwards a couple of inches ; then stretch itself out as before, and again 

 spring backwards. If the hand were held to it, it made no attempt to 

 escape, but raising itself a little on its legs, and cocking its tail to 

 nearly a right angle with the body, it slowly twirled its neck about in 

 the peculiar manner of the species, and with crest erect, and uttering its 

 singular hiss, darted up suddenly, and gave a sharp peck ; then twisted 



