298 
British Birds. 
peckers, but Wrynecks do not possess the stiff and pointed tail 
feathers of Woodpeckers, whicli are clinil)ers. 
The ])ill of the Wrj'iieck is neither so strong, nor so stontly 
built as tliat of the Woodpecker, moreover the former scarcely 
ever use their bill for hammering, while this is a well known 
Characteristic of the Woodpecker ; nevertheless, I have occasion- 
ally seen a captive Wryneck hammer rather hard and quickly on 
the perches and sides of cage or aviary. 
The tongue is exceedingly long, and is thrust out and with- 
drawn with lightning-like rapidity when feeding, but it does not 
possess the arrangement of backward directed spines, which are 
a noticeable feature of the tongues of Woodpeckers; instead it 
has a sharp horny substance just at the end, about a quarter of an 
inch in length, directly followed by soft transparent gristle, in 
the centre of which is a thin line of some harder swbstance. 
Being so constructed it is very flexible, and is covered with a 
sort of glutinoussaliva, to which its food adheres ; it will readily be 
seen with what an efifective weapon nature has endowed this 
interesting species for the collection or capture of its prey. 
The feet and claws are not veiy strong, and cannot very 
well be used for climbing up the trunks of trees, consequently, 
when the bird is in search of food, it resorts mos-tly to the upper 
parts of branches, or on the ground foraging for ants, which con- 
stitute the greater part of its diet. Its foot is zygodaclylous, i.e. 
pair toed, as in Parrot.s, Cuckoos, &c. ; this feature being common 
to most of the genera of the orders Cucuufokmes and Cokaci- 
FOKMKS. 
In captivity, it becomes sufficiently tame and confiding 
for its interesting charactei istics and demeanour, to be easily 
watched. Its movements and attitudes at different times are 
really extraordinary, fully justifying the name of •'Snake-bird," 
which cognomen is one of its popular names, — others are 
Cuckoo's-male and Cuckoo's leader, as the time of its anival in 
this country is about concurrent with that of the "Harbinger 
of Spring." If it is clo.sely observed, or steadily stared at, it will 
very gradually bend forwaid and, at the same time, lengthen its 
iieck, erect its crest (or long head feathers), press down the 
feathers of its neck, swell out the throat, and finish up the per- 
