ye THE NATURAL HISTORY. 
It is a bird. of paflage, but generally vifits us 
before the Cuckoo. It has a-ftrange way of turn- | 
~ ing its head back to its fhoulders, efpecially when © 
frightened, and this is the reafon why it is called - 
the Wry-Neck, ‘This motion is generally not 
fudden, ‘but gradual, like the Caterpillafs when — 
they are going to fpin, and with his eyes half fhut. 
One of thefe birds was confined in a cage; he al- 
ways turned to face thofe who came near him, » 
and raifed himfelf upon his fpurs, and coming for- 
ward with his tail fpread, at the fame time raifed © 
‘the feathers of his head ; then he withdrew haftily, » 
and ftruck his beak againft the bottom of the cage, 
and this he did frequently. The young Wry- | 
Necks begin to turn their heads about in the neft. 
The Wry-Neck builds in hollow trees, and ge- 
nerally lays nine egos. He conftantly follows the — 
Cuckoo, and gives the little birds notice when 
the Hawk is coming. He lives very much in 
hollow trees, and feeds upon the infe&s which he - 
finds there ; though {ome fay, he takes all his food 
upon the ground. Though the Wry-Necks have ~ 
two toes before and two behind, he does not run 
fee taper 
up the trunks of the trees like the Woodpecker. 
He can raife the feathers of his head, and make 
a creft like a Jay. fees 
Genus» 
