. The popular natural history . Zoology. 364 CUCKOOS. darted rapidly in every direction, the neck and central line of the back twisting in a manner 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 serpent that it is in some places known by the name of the snake-bird. The nest of the Wryneck is hardly deserving of that name, being merely composed of chips of decaying wood. The eggs are laid in the hollow of a tree, not wholly excavated by the bird, as is the case with the woodpeckers, its b
. The popular natural history . Zoology. 364 CUCKOOS. darted rapidly in every direction, the neck and central line of the back twisting in a manner 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 serpent that it is in some places known by the name of the snake-bird. The nest of the Wryneck is hardly deserving of that name, being merely composed of chips of decaying wood. The eggs are laid in the hollow of a tree, not wholly excavated by the bird, as is the case with the woodpeckers, its beak not being sufficiently strong for such a task, but adapted to the purpose from some already existing hole. The number of eggs laid by the Wryneck is rather great, as many as ten having often been found in a single nest. In one instance no less than twenty-two eggs were taken at four intervals. Their colour is beautiful white with a pinky tinge, not unlike those of the kingfisher; and as this pink colour is produced by the yolk showing itself through the delicate shell, it is, of course, lost when the egg is emptied of its contents. The plumage of this little bird, al- though devoid of bril- liant hues, and decked only with brown, black, and grey, is really hand- some, from the manner in which those appa- rently sombre tints are disposed. The Cuckoos consti- tute a large family, con- taining several smaller groups and many spe- cies. Two representa- tives of the groups will be found in the following pages. All these birds have a rather long, slender, and somewhat curved beak, which in some species takes a curve so decided, that it gives quite a predaceous air • to its owner. Examples of the Cuckoo tribe are to be found in almost every portion of the globe, and are most plentiful about the tropics. There are few birds which are more widely known by good and evil report than the common CuCKOO. It is well known that the female Cuckoo does not make any nest, but places her egg
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
