. Animate creation : popular edition of "Our living world" : a natural history. Zoology; Zoology. 422 THE WRYNECK. and therefore linown as the cuckoo's footman. There is another name for this bird, signifying " Cuckoo's knave," " Gwas-y-gog," the pronunciation of whicli I must leave to Welsh throats. The tongue of this bird is long, slender and capable of being projected to the distance of an inch or so from the extremity of the beak, and its construction is almost exactly the same as that of the woodpecker. As might be supi>o,sed, it is emi^loyed for the same
. Animate creation : popular edition of "Our living world" : a natural history. Zoology; Zoology. 422 THE WRYNECK. and therefore linown as the cuckoo's footman. There is another name for this bird, signifying " Cuckoo's knave," " Gwas-y-gog," the pronunciation of whicli I must leave to Welsh throats. The tongue of this bird is long, slender and capable of being projected to the distance of an inch or so from the extremity of the beak, and its construction is almost exactly the same as that of the woodpecker. As might be supi>o,sed, it is emi^loyed for the same purjiose, being used in capturing little insects, of which ants form its favorite diet. So fond, indeed, is the Wryneck of these insects, that in some countiies it is popularly known by the name of Emmet-hunter. In i)ursuit of ants it trips nimlily about the trunks and l)ranches of trees, picking them off neatly with its tongue as they iiin their untiring course. It also frequents ant-hills, especially when the insects are bringing out their pupjB to lie in the sun, and swal- lows ants and jnipje at a great pace. When, as in damj) or cold weathei', the ants remain within their fortress, the Wryneck pecks briskly at the hillock until it breaks its way through the fragile walls of the nest, and as the warlike insects come rushing out to attack the intruder. '?mm \vi'/ '^ WltiNECK Jijnx ImqilUla. of their home and to repair damages, it makes an excellent meal of them in spite of their anger and their stings. When ants are scarce and scantily spread over the ground, the Wryneck runs after them in a very agile fashion; but when it comes upon a well-stocked spot, it stands motionless, with the exception of the head, which is darted rapidly in every direction, the neck and central line of the l)ack twisting in a maimer that reminds the observer of a snake. When captured or wounded, it will lie on its back, ruffle up its feathers, erect its neck, and hiss so like an angry servient that
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Keywords: ., bookauthorbr, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectzoology
