WRY'NECS, Punx, a genus of birds of the woodpecker family (picidce), having a short, straight, conical beak; a long extensile tongue, with a horny point; wings of mod erate size; a rather short and rounded tail; the feet with two toes in front. and two behind. One species, the COMMON WRYNECK (Y. torquiila), is a summer visitant of Britain and the n. of Europe. From its appearing at the sathe time with the cuckoo, it has acquired the name of cuckoo's mate. It is common in the s. of England, but very rare in the northern parts of Britain. It is about 7 in. long, of a rusty ash color, irreg ularly spotted with brown and black. It feeds on caterpillars and insects, and is often seen on the ground near ant-hills, feeding on the ants and their "eggs." The construc tion of its tongue resembles that of woodpeckers, and enables it to seize its insect prey with wonderful celerity; the tongue is darted Out, and retracted, so that the eye can scarcely follow it; the two posterior branches of the bones of the tongue being much elongated, and muscles for its extension attached to them. There is also a long gland on each side of the lower jaw, which secretes a glutinous mucus, so that insects adhere to the horny tip of the tongue. The wryneck generally makes almost no nest, but de
posits its eggs on fragments of decayed wood in the hole of a tree. The young birds are easily tamed, and are great favorites with boys. In France, it is common for boys to tie a string to one of the legs of the bird, and to allow it to climb trees in search of insects. It climbs rea;:ily on their clothes. The name wryneck is derived from the habit which the bird has of writhing its head and neck quickly in various directions, with an undulating snake-like motion, which it does particularly if found in its hole in a tree, making at the same time a hissing noise, so as to alarm the intruder; but on his drawing back, it suddenly darts out and escapes.
a t. of India, in the peninsula of Kattywar, province of Guzerat, 105 m. w. by n. from Baroda. It is situated on a small river, which falls into the great salt marsh, the Bunn of Cutch. Pop. 32,220. The surrounding district is in a high state of cultivation, and is celebrated for the excellence of the cotton which it produces.