260 



THE SYNALLAXINE BIRDS. 



The Oven-bird is a bold little creature, caring nothing, as has already been implied, 

 for the close proximity of man, and attacking fiercely any other bird that might happen 

 to approach too closely to its residence, screeching defiantly the while. It is a quick, 

 active bird, tripping over the ground with great rapidity while searching after its prey, 

 and is almost invariably found in company with its mate. Tiie flight of the Oven-bird is 

 not at all strong, and it seldom indulges in any aerial excursions beyond a short flight 

 from one bush to another. Both sexes take part in the construction of the nest, each 

 going alternately for supplies of clay, straw, and grass-stems, working them well together, 

 and then flying for a fresh load as soon as its mate has arrived. It feeds principally on 

 insects, having a special liking for those of the beetle kind. 





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There is an allied genus of Oveu-birds, termed Cinclodes, the members of which are 

 found upon the western coasts of South America, and generally frequent the sea-shore, 

 where they feed upon tlie smaller cru.staceans and molluscs. They are rather daring little 

 birds, and will seek tlieir prey at some distance from shore, perching upon the fronds of 

 floating sea-weed, and pecking out the various marine creatures that are always to be 

 found in such localities. Like the true Oven-bird.s, they are careless of the presence of 

 man, and are so fearless that they can almost be taken by hand. Indeed, one voj'ager 

 relates that he killed ten of these little birds with a stick without any difficulty, and 

 hardly having to change his position. 



Another small group of the Certhidaj is known to zoologists by the title of Synal- 

 LAXINE Birds, and distinguished by the greater length of the outer toe, and its juncture 

 to the middle toe nearly as far as the first joint. The hinder toe is long and rather 

 powerful, and all the claws are sharply curved, pointed, and strong. The tail is rather 

 long, and is almost always pointed, like that of the common creeper of England. 



The Syuallaxine birds are inhabitants of tropical America, and, like the oven-birds, 

 are notable for the very curious nest which they construct. Although these birds are of 

 small dimensions, they all build nests which might easily be attributed to the labours of 

 some hawk or crow. The nest of one species is often from three to four feet in length, 

 and is placed very openly in some low bush, where it escapes notice on account of its resem- 

 blance to a bunch of loose sticks thrown carelessly together by the wind. In its interior, 

 however, the edifice is very carefully made, and, like the nest of the oven-birds, is divided 

 into two recesses, the eggs being laid in the inner apartment, upon a bed of soft feathers. 



The Syuallaxine birds are generally found upon the trees, which they traverse with 

 great rapidity in search of the various insects on which they feed, and may often be seen 



