W R Y N E C K .
TUNX TORQ.UILLJ.
THE Wryneck is ouly a W I T visitor to the British Islands, arrtrinf early in April, anil, after rearing ils
young, leaving our shores nhout the end of August or early in September. The latest dale ou which I have
noticed one was cm the 3th of September; this was wit hi a a lew hundred yards of tin' -ea-eoas1. ]n mo-1
of iho southern and eastern counties a few pairs are to be met with scalU'rcd over tbu wooiled porlious
of the country, though in no locality 1 am acquainted with can it he termed abundant. On a line spring
morning during the second week iu April, 1 have ou oue or two occasions in Susses met with as many as hall' a
dozen specimens within a short distance of one another, along a hedgerow, ou a rough grassy bank. These,
however, were birds that had just landed, and were takiug their lirst rest after making the passage of the
Channel, On visiting the spot, a few hours later it would he found that the whole of then had shifted their
quarters further inland. I can lind no entry in my note-books concerning observations on this species further
north than Norfolk; and I am unable to call to mind a single instance w here 1 have recognized it iu cither the
more nor!hern counties of Ijiglaud nr the south of Scotland.
Owing to the solicr lints of ils beautifully marked and variegated plumage, this is by no means au
attractive species, and, except on ils first arrival (when its subdued though somewhat striking note is heard),
¡1 might easily escape the observation of those who are not accustomed to its habits or actions. The cry
somewhat resembles the wonls "pen, peu, lieu," repeated six, eight, ten, or even a dozen times in rapid
The Wryneck, when unmolested, is most unsuspicious of danger, aud is an exi lingly amusing visitor
to watch whilo taking up its residence for the summer mouths in an orchard or shrubbery. Occasionally
the youug are reared in close proximity to dwelling-houses. A brood were pointed out to me somo years
back, near the small village of Plumpton, in Sussex, in a hole in an apple tree standing at the disUucu of
only three or four feet from the door of a cottage. The woman who lived there was particularly anxious 1
should make away with the fauiily, as she declared thoy one and all " bussed " at her every time the door was
opened ; and she had a notion they were " unlucky birds." This was the tlr.st ami ouly lime I have heard such
tm idea expressed with regard to this species.
The remarkably elongated tongue of the Wryneck charly indicates that it is intended hy nature tu procure
its living in somewhat the same manner as the Woodpecker tribe. Auts and their eggs, together with insects
of various kinds, form probably the chief or the whole of its diet
Wryneck, and Cuckoo's mate, appear to be the commonest titles for this species. Any one who has
quietly watched one of these birds sunning itself on the limb of a tree, and carefully noted all the
contortions it will go through (elongating its neck and twisting it in the most extraordinary manner,
while adding to the strangeness of its attitudes by occasionally raising and dropping ils feathers so as
to admit tho warmth uf the sun), wilt easily recognize the derivation of the name. The date of its arrival,