THE OVEN-BIRD. 12l 



of a snipe. The sportsmen of the Beagle unani- 

 mously called it the short-billed snipe. To this 

 genus, or rather to the family of the Waders, its 

 skeleton shows that it is really related. 



The Tinochorus is closely related to some other 

 South American birds. Two species of the genus 

 Attagis are in almost every respect ptannigans in 

 their habits : one lives in Tierra del Fuego, above 

 the limits of the forest land ; and the other just 

 beneath the snow-line on the Cordillera of Central 

 Chile. A bird of another closely allied genus, 

 Chionis alba, is an inhabitant of the antarctic re- 

 gions ; it feeds on sea- weed and shells on the tidal 

 rocks. Although not web-footed, from some unac- 

 countable habit it is frequently met with far out 

 at sea. This small family of birds is one of those 

 which, from its varied relations to other families, 

 although at present oftering only difficulties to the 

 systematic naturalist, ultimately may assist in re- 

 vealing the grand scheme, common to the present 

 and past ages, on which organized beings have 

 been created. 



The genus Furnarius contains several species, 

 all small birds, living on the gi'ound, and inhabiting 

 open, dry countries. In sti-ucture they cannot be 

 compared to any European form. Ornithologists 

 have generally included them among the creepers, 

 although opposed to that family in every habit. 

 The best known species is the common oven-bird 

 of La Plata, the Casara or housemaker of the Span- 

 iards. The nest, whence it takes its name, is placed 

 in the most exposed situations, as on the top of a 

 post, a bare rock, or on a cactus. It is composed 

 of mud and bits of straw, and has strong thick 

 walls : in shape it precisely resembles an oven, or 

 depressed beehive. The opening is large and 

 arched, and directly in front, within the nest, there 



