[Illustration]
Yunx torquilla, LINNÆUS; Le Torcol, BUFFON; Der Gemeiner
Wendehals, BECHSTEIN.
Though it is six inches and a half in length, it is not larger than our
lark, because its tail includes three inches and a quarter, and its beak
nine lines. The iris is of a brownish yellow, the feet, two claws of
which are before and two behind, are short, strong, and lead colour. The
head is ash-coloured, speckled with small rust-coloured spots mixed with
some white ones. The top of the head and half of the back are divided
lengthwise by a broad black streak, edged with rust colour; the rest of
the upper part of the body is of a fine grey, streaked and speckled with
black, white, and rust colour. In the female the belly is paler than in
the male.
HABITATION.--When wild, it is a bird of passage, which departs during
the first fortnight of September, and does not return till the end of
April, frequenting groves and orchards. In August it goes into
gardens and fields planted with cabbages and other vegetables.
In the house it is better to let it run about at will than to keep it
in a cage, where it would soil its feathers, particularly those on
the belly and breast, while playing.
FOOD.--In its wild state, the wryneck lives on insects, for catching
which it has a very long cylindrical tongue, with a hard point, that
can be insinuated into all the chinks and fissures of trees. Ants'
eggs are a very favourite food, and it does not dislike the ants
themselves. Towards autumn, when the latter fail, it is contented
with elderberries till the time of its departure which never varies.
In the house it must be first given ants' eggs; and then by degrees
the universal paste, to which it soon becomes accustomed; but, as it
is delicate, in order to preserve it for some time, the nightingales'
food agrees better with it. It is very amusing to see it search all
the cracks and crevices of the room for insects; and if a few ants'
eggs were now and then put there, it would give it the greatest
pleasure.
BREEDING.--Its nest, which it places in the hole of a tree, is formed
of moss, wool, hair, and straw. It lays eight eggs, which are white,
and very smooth. The adults and old ones are difficult to preserve
and tame; but the young ones may be easily reared on ants' eggs, and
the universal paste, made of the crumb of white bread.
MODE OF TAKING.--In general it is caught by putting lime twigs round
the nest; but if the weather be stormy, as in spring, when it is busy
searching the bushes for insects, it may even be taken by the hand.
The one I now have was brought to me by a little boy who had taken it
in this manner.
ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--Independently of its beautiful plumage, it is
very amusing to see it make those movements which have given it its
name of wryneck. It lengthens its neck, and turns round its head, so
that the beak points down the back. Its general position is quite
straight; the feathers of the head and throat very smooth, and the
tail spread like a fan, at the same time bowing low. If it be
irritated, or even if its food be brought, it slowly leans forward,
raising the feathers on its head, lengthening and turning its neck,
rolling its eyes; it then bows, spreads its tail, and murmurs some
harsh sounds in its throat; in short, it puts itself in the most
singular attitudes, and makes the most ridiculous grimaces. At other
times it seems to have a melancholy disposition. In spring the male
often cries in a full tone, _gui, gui, gui, gui_, to call its female.
M. de Schauroth informs me that two wrynecks which he reared became
so tame, that they would hang about his clothes, and begin to warble
as soon as they heard him, or saw him even at a distance. One day,
being wearied and teazed with its incessant cries, he drove one out
of the window; but having called it towards evening, it immediately
replied to his voice, and permitted itself to be taken. One of these
birds, which he let range about at will, having perched on a
neighbouring tree, he had only to hold out and show it the box
containing its food, and it returned immediately.