Notes on the Birds of Northamptonshire

This historic book may have numerous typos or missing text. Not indexed. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1883. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... 178 Lord Lilford on the Birds of Northamptonshire. tail cocked at an angle to the body. The Wryneck does not, indeed cannot, bore into trees to make nesting-holes, but takes possession of the labours of Woodpeckers or any other cavities in trees which may suit its views; and though, as far as we know, it never makes any nest for itself, it will lay on the materials collected by other hole-nesting birds, especially, in this neighbourhood, the nests of the TreeSparrow, giving a decided preference to the hollows of old fruit-trees and pollard willows. The eggs are pure white, and, according to Yarrell (4th edition), vary from six to ten in number; from our own experience we should say that seven is about the average, but we have found nine, and once eleven; they may be distinguished from those of the Barred Woodpecker by their larger size and a slight difference in texture of the shell, but are quite similar enough to be often labelled by careless egg-collectors as belonging to that species. The Wryneck appears to be more or less common throughout England, but scarcer in our western counties and in Wales than elsewhere, rare in Scotland, and has, according to Yarrell (edition supra cit.) only once been recorded as occurring in Ireland. The name Wryneck is derived from the curious manner in which this bird twists and writhes its head and neck when handled or irritated. We have more than once caught the bird in its nesting-holes, and found that, after vehement snake-like contortions, ruffling the feathers of head and neck, and some vicious pecks at our fingers, it will feign death, but take the first opportunity of escape. An instance is quoted in Yarrell in which no less than forty-two eggs were taken at various times iu one summer, between May 29th and July...