A dictionary of British birds : reprinted from Montagu's Ornithological dictionary, and incorporating the additional species described by Selby; Yarrell, in all three editions, and in natural-history journals / compiled and edited by Edward Newman.
- George Montagu
- Date:
- 1866
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: A dictionary of British birds : reprinted from Montagu's Ornithological dictionary, and incorporating the additional species described by Selby; Yarrell, in all three editions, and in natural-history journals / compiled and edited by Edward Newman. Source: Wellcome Collection.
422/440 page 394
![[Writing Lark. — Mr. Yarrell refers this name to the YeUow Bunting.] Wiyneck. — This genus consists of only a single sijccies, no other having as yet been discovered in any part of the world, the characters are as follows : Bill round- ish, slightly incurvated, and not very strong. Nostrils bare of feathers, and somewhat concave. Tongue three times the length of the hill, slender, and armed at the point with a horny substance. Tail consists of ten flexible feathers. Toes placed two backwards, two forwards. Wryneck. — [ Yarrell, ii. 163 ; Heioitson, Ixii. 243.] Yunx torquilla, Lin. Syst. i. p. 172 ; Gmel. Syst. i. p. 423 : Eaii Syii. j). 44, A. 8 ; Will. p. 95, t. 22; Ind. Orn. i. p. 223, 1; Bris. iv. p. 4, t. 1, f. 1; Ih. 8vo, ii. p. 43; Nat. Miscel. t. 156; Bewiclc, Br. Birds, i. t. p. 115. Le Torcol, Buf. vii. p. 84, t. 3. WTyneck, Br. Zool. i. No. 83; Ih. fol. 80, t. F. G.; Arct. Zool. ii. p. 267, B.; Will. Angl. p. 138, t. 22; Albin, i. t. 21; Lewin, Br. Birds, ii. t. 43; Lath. Syn. ii. p. 548, t. 24; Ih. Sup. p. 103; Wale. Syn. i. t. 44; Pult. Cat. Dorset, p. 6 ; Don. Br. Birds, iv. t. 83. Provincial: Long- tongue; Emmet-hunter. — The Wryneck seems to be the link between the Wood- pecker and the Cuekow; it has the tongue and feet of the former, but not the strong angular bill or stiff tail; it has also the feet, and somewhat the bill, of the latter; as well as the same number of flexible fea- thers in the tail. The weight of this beautiful bird is about ten drams ; the length seven inches; the bill is three- quarters of an inch long, nearly strait, and sharp-pointed ; tongue cylindric, two inches and a quarter in length ; irides light ha^el, inclining to yellow. The upper part of the head and neck, back, rump, and upper tail-coverts are ash- colour, marked wiih numerous fine dusky, transverse, undulated lines; from the crown of the head a black list runs half- way down the back, disposed in four in- distinct lines ; the wing-coverts like the back, but inclining to rufous, and spotted with grey; the greater quills dusky, marked on their exterior webs with quadrangular rust-coloured spots; the cliin and fore part of the neck yellowish white, crossed with dusky lines; lower part of the breast, belly, and sides white, with small triangu- lar dusky spots ; under tail-coverts rufous- white, ci-ossed with dusky lines; the tail- feathers are broad, and rounded at their ends, and of the same colour as the back, with four distinct black bars ; legs brown. The pen or the pencil can only give a very inadequate idea of the elegant markings of this bird. The name of Wryneck seems to have been given it from the singular manner of turning its head over its shoulder alternately, at which time the black list on the back of the neck gives it a twisted appearance; it also erects all the feathers on the ci-own of the head in a terrific manner. It has been called the Emmet-hunter with great propriety, that insect being its chief food. The bill of this bird seems to be of little use in pro- curing subsistence, the tongue being the chief instrument used for such pui poses. We were enabled to examine the manners of this bird minutely by taking a female from her nest, and confining her in a cage for some days. A quantity of mould with emmets and their eggs were given it; and it was curious to obseiwe the tongue darted forward and retracted with such velocity, and with such unerring aim, that it never returned without an ant or an egg adhering to it, not transfixed hy the horny point, as some have imagined, but retained by apecu- liar tenacious moisture, by Nature provided for that purpose. lYhile it is feeding the body is motionless, the head only is turned to every .side, and the motion of the tongue is so rapid that an ant’s egg, which is of a light colour, and more conspicuous than the tongue, has somewhat the appearance of moving towards the mouth by attraction, as a needle flies to a magnet. The bill is rarely used, except to remove the mould in order to get more readily at these in- sects; where the earth is hollow the tongue is thrust into nil the cavities to rouse the ants ; for this purpose the horny append- age is extremely serviceable, as a guide to the tongue. We have seen the Green Woodpecker take its food in a similar manner ; and most probably every species of that genus does the same. The Wry- neck makes a noise very much like the smaller species of Hawks, which it fre- quently repeats in the spring, soon after its arrival, which is generally about the middle of April, sometimes earlier in that month. Appearing at the same time with the Cuekow, it has been termed that bird’s servant or attendant. If this bird is sur- prised in its nest, it has a singular action of defence ; stretching itself at full length, and erecting the feathers on the head, it suddenly rises, making at the same time a short hissing noise, something like that of a cock Turkey. This was frequently' done in the cage when it was approached. It is not uncommon in the southern and eastern parts of the kingdom, but is'more scarce westwai’d, and rarely if ever found in Cornwall. It chiefly inhabits woods, or thickly-enclosed countries, where trees abound, or orchards; is seldom observed to climb trees, although the feet seem cal- culated for that jiurpose. It makes no](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28089935_0422.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
