FURNAR1US RUFUS. 167 



This form is unknown to us, and we can only give a short translation 

 of Burmeister's description of it. It is said to resemble Geositta, but 

 has a much shorter and perfectly straight beak. 



178. FURNARIUS RUFUS (Gin.). 

 (RED OVEN-BIRD.) 



Furnarius rufus, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 462 (La Plata) ; Scl. et Salv. 

 Nomencl p. 61 ; Durnford, Ibis, 1877, p. 179 (Buenos Ayres) ; Gibson, Ibis, 

 1880, p. 16 (Buenos Ayres). 



Description. Above earthy brown, with a slight rufescent tinge, wing-feathers 

 blackish, margined with pale brown ; whole of the outer secondaries pale brown, 

 like the back ; tail and upper tail-coverts bright ferruginous brown ; below 

 white, breast and flanks and under wing-coverts pale sandy-brown ; under 

 surface of the wing with a broad sandy bar across the basal portion ; bill and 

 feet horn-colour : whole length 7*8 inches, wing 4'0, tail 2-8. Female similar. 



Hob. Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. 



The Red Oven-bird is an extremely well-known species in Argentina, 

 and, where found, a great favourite on account of its familiarity with 

 man, its loud, ringing, cheerful voice, and its wonderful mud nest, 

 which it prefers to build near a human habitation, often on a cornice, 

 a projecting beam, or on the roof of the house itself. 



It is a stout little bird, about 8^ to 9 inches long, with a slender, 

 slightly- curved beak nearly an inch in length, and strong legs suited to 

 its terrestrial habits. The upper plumage is uniform rufous-brown in 

 colour, brightest on the tail ; the under surface very light brown. It 

 ranges throughout the Argentine Republic to Bahia Blanca in the 

 south, and is usually named Homer "o or Casera (Oven-bird or House- 

 builder), but in Paraguay and Corrientes it is called Alonzo Garsia or 

 Alonzito. Azara could give no reason for such a name ; but it seems 

 to me that one need not look for one beyond the fact that this species 

 inspires an affectionate admiration in the country people : I mean in 

 those of Spanish origin, for the bird-killing French and Italians have 

 no tenderness for it. I have frequently been assured by natives that 

 the Hornero is a pious bird, and always suspends its labours on sacred 

 days. With this pretty belief about it in their minds, it is not strange 

 that in some districts they have called it by a human name. 



It is resident, pairs for life, and finds its food, which consists of larvae 

 and worms, exclusively on the ground. It delights in open places, 

 where it can move freely about on the ground ; and is partial to court- 

 yards, clean garden-walks, &c., where, with head thrown back and 



