The Oven Bird.



239



builds on Sunday. In confirmation of this Hudson tells a good

story, which was told him by an old ranch keeper.


It appears that one of a pair died in the nest, which was

just completed. The surviving bird, after waiting for a short

time, went away, and in a few days returned with another mate.

This pair promptly began nest-building, but their first task was

to hermetically seal up the door of the old nest, after which they

proceeded to build a new one on the top.



SECTION OF OVEN BIRD’S NEST.


(From Prof, Newton's Dictionary of Birds).



For those, who are anxious to know more of this curious

bird, notes on its habits may be found in Darwin’s Naturalist’s

Voyage, chap. V.; Durnford, Ibis, 1S77, p. 179; E. Gibson, Ibis,

1880, pp. 16-18; Hudson’s Argentine Ornithology, Vol. I., pp.

167-170 ; Goldi, Zool. Gart., 1886, pp. 26S-271, to which sources

I have to express my indebtedness for the notes given above,

and also to Messrs. A. & G. Black for permission to use the block

from Prof. Newton’s Dictionary of Birds.



Part II.


By Hubert D. Astley.


These birds are rather difficult to keep for long in captivity,

although they might be all right if a supply of gentles and fresh

ants’ eggs were given.


They are fascinating birds, with their curious strut as they



