BIRDS. 65 



2. FuRNAUius cuNicuLARius. G. R. Gray. 



Alauda cunicularia, Vieill. 



Alauda fissirostra, Kittl. Mem. I'Acad. St. Peters, ii. j)l. -3. 



Certhilauda cunicularia, D'Orl. Sf Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 



This bird has a considerable geographical range. On the eastern side of 

 the continent it is found from about 40° (for I never saw one in the southern 

 districts of Patagonia) northward to at least 30°, and perhaps much further. On 

 the western side its southern limit is the neighbourhood of Concepcion, where 

 the country becomes dry and open, and it ranges throughout Chile (specimens 

 were procured from Valparaiso) to at least as far north as Lima, in lat. 12°, on the 

 coast of Peru. I may here observe, that the northern limit of all birds, which are 

 lovers of dry countries, such as this Furnarius and some of the species of Mimus, 

 is not probably at Lima but near Cape Blanco, 10° south of the Equator, where 

 the open and parched land of Peru blends (as it was described to me) rather 

 suddenly into the magnificent forests of Guayaquil. This Furnarius constantly 

 haunts the driest and most open districts; and hence sand-dunes near the coast 

 afford it a favourite resort. In La Plata, in Northern Patagonia, and in 

 Central Chile, it is abundant: in the former country it is called Casarita, a name 

 which has evidently been given from its relationship with the Casaro, or Fur- 

 narius rufus, for, as we shall see, its nidification is very different. It is a very 

 tame, most quiet, solitary little bird, and like the English robin {Sylvia rubecula) 

 it is usually most active early in the morning and late in the evening. When 

 disturbed it flies only to a short distance ; it is fond of dusting itself on the 

 roads ; it walks and runs (but not very quickly), and generally by starts. I 

 opened the stomachs of some, and found in them remains of Coleoptera, and 

 chiefly Carabidae. At certain seasons it frequently utters a peculiar, shrill but 

 gentle, reiterated cry, which is so quickly repeated as to produce one running 

 sound. In this respect, and in its manner of walking on the ground, and in its 

 food, this species closely resembles the Casaro, but in its quiet manners it diff'ers 

 widely from that active bird. Its nidification is likewise different, for it builds its 

 nest at the bottom of a narrow cylindrical hole, which is said to extend horizon- 

 tally to nearly six feet under ground. Several of the country people told me, 

 that when boys, they had attempted to dig out the nest, but had scarcely ever 

 succeeded in getting to the end. The bird chooses any low bank of firm sandy 

 soil by the side of a road or stream. At the settlement of Bahia Blanca the walls 

 are built of hardened mud ; and I noticed one, enclosing a courtyard, where I 

 lodged, which was penetrated by round holes in a score of places. On asking 

 the owner the cause of this, he bitterly complained of the little Casarita, several 



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