W R Y N E C K . 54?
eight to ten in number, on the bare rotten wood within; thefe
eggs are as white as ivory *, according to Buffon.
This-, as far as relates to England!, is- a bird of paflagej coming
eight or ten days before the Cuckow. We find it mentioned as an
inhabitant throughout Europe, and of many parts of the old Continent.
It is in Rujjia, Sweden, Lapland, Greece, Italy, Babylon, and
Bengal; authorities for which Buffon mentions, and fays, that at the
end of fummer. this bird grows very fat, when it becomes excellent
eatings for which reafon, fome have named it the Ortolan.
Its food is chiefly ants, which the male has-been obferved to carry
to the female while fitting.— The young ones, while in the neft,
will hifs like fo many fnakes ; infomuch that many have been
prevented plundering the old ones of their offspring, on fuppo-
fition, that they were advancing their hands on the. brood of this
loathfome reptile..
Le Torcol raye, B rif ora; iv. p, 7;..
Jyngi congener, Aldrov. av. i. p. 868. t. 869.-W ilI.orn. t. 22,
'J 'H I S i s faidto differ from the other,.in manner following:
— The head and upper parts of the body are ferruginous,
beautifully varied with tranfverfe yellow fpots: the unde^ parts
white, varied with longitudinal lines o f yellow: the wings and
tail the fame colour with the back : legs yellow: claws black
and hocked.
It is much to be doubted whether this is a different bird j it is
more likely a variety of the common fpecies above-mentioned.
* Mr. Pennant otferves, that the thell is lo thin that the yolk may be feen
within. He alio lays, that it.makes a neft of dry grafs. Sr. Zoot. 8vo. p. 239.
G e n u s ,
Plaois*.
V ak. At