120 TENUIROSTRES. 



siderable ease and activity^ collecting food from tlie 

 withered herbage. Their nests are cylindrical^ very 

 large^ and generally placed in the middle of a 

 compact bush. They are composed outwardly of 

 prickly twigs^ with the entrance at the upper end, 

 from which a curved passage loads to the interior, 

 which is lined with feathers and hair. 



Some species build a nursery for their young of 

 very elaborate construction, placed at the extremity 

 of the branch of a prickly tree, or occasionally in the 

 middle of an isolated bush : the size of this nest is 

 enormous when we take into account the small 

 dimensions of its little artificers ; it measures some- 

 times ■ two feet in height, and a foot and a half in 

 diameter. This large structure is of an elongated, 

 oval form, having the broadest part below. Exter- 

 nally it is protected by many large thorny branches, 

 intertwined with such art that they cannot be 23ulled 

 asunder without destroying the entire fabric, which 

 is lined with feathers, hair, and straws. Internally 

 it consists of two chambers, of which one is rather 

 spacious, and opens on the side or top. In this 

 chamber there is a corridor, which at first ascends, 

 and then leads down to a second compartment, 

 better furnished with feathers and other warm 

 materials, on which the female lays four or five 

 eggs. The parent birds take great care of these 

 nests, in the repair of which they seem to be con- 

 stantly engaged, and from which they drive their 

 young as soon as they are able to take care of 

 themselves. 



In the woodland scenery of Bahia, in Brazil, the 

 nests of these birds form very striking objects, being 

 sometimes three or four feet long, and resembling 

 at a distance thick twists of bean-stalks, thrown 

 amongst the branches by accident. Both the male 

 and female may generally be seen near their remark- 

 able domiciles, uttering a shrill monotonous chirp. 



I^he type of this sub-family is the — 



Chilian Synallaxis [Synallaxis rvjicapilla). 



