OVEN-BIRD * 201 



globular form with only a narrow opening, the wall 

 on one side is curved inwards, reaching from the 

 floor to the dome, and at the inner extremity an 

 aperture is left to admit the bird to the interior or 

 second chamber, in which the eggs are laid. A man's 

 hand fits easily into the first or entrance chamber, 

 but cannot be twisted about so as to reach the eggs 

 in the interior cavity, the entrance being so small 

 and high up. The interior is lined with dry, soft 

 grass, and five white pear-shaped eggs are laid. The 

 oven is a foot or more in diameter, and is sometimes 

 very massive, weighing eight or nine pounds, and 

 so strong that, unless loosened by the swaying of 

 the branch, it often remains unharmed for two or 

 three years. The birds incubate by turns, and when 

 one returns from the feeding-ground it sings its loud 

 notes, on which the sitting bird rushes forth to join 

 in the joyous chorus, and then flies away, the other 

 taking its place on the eggs. The young are exceed- 

 ingly garrulous, and when only half-fledged may be 

 heard practising trills and duets in their secure oven, 

 in shrill tremulous voices, which change to the usual 

 hunger-cry of young birds when the parent enters 

 with food. After leaving the nest, the old and young 

 birds live for two or three months together, only 

 one brood being raised in each year. A new oven is 

 built every year, and I have more than once seen a 

 second oven built on the top of the first, when this 

 has been placed very advantageously, as on a pro- 

 jection and against a wall. 

 A very curious thing occurred at the estancia house 



