1833.] THE OVEX-TJIBD. 89 



above the limits of the forest land; and the other just beneath the 

 siiow-liue on the Cordillera of Central Chile. A bird of another 

 closely allied genus, Chionis alba, is an inhabitant of the antarctic 

 regions ; it feeds on sea- weed and shells on the tidal rocks. Although 

 not web-footed, from some unaccountable 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 offering only difficulties to the systematic naturalist, ulti- 

 mately may assist in revealing 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 ground, and inhabiting open dry countries. In 

 structure they cannot be compared to any European form. Or- 

 nithologists 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 house- 

 maker of the Spaniards. 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 niud and bits of 

 straw, raid 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 is a partition, which 

 reaches nearly to the roof, thus forming a passage or antechamber 

 to the true nest. 



Another and smaller species of Furnarius (F. cunicularius), 

 resembles the oven-bird in the general reddish tint of its plumage, 

 in a peculiar shrill reiterated cry, and in an odd manner of running 

 by starts. From its affinity, the Spaniards call it Casarita (or 

 little housebuilder), although its nidification is quite different. 

 The Casarita builds its nest at the bottom of a narrow cylindrical 

 hole, which is said to extend horizontally 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 of the passage. The bird chooses 

 any low bank of firm, sandy soil by the side of a road or stream. 

 Here (at Bahia Blanca) the walls round the houses are built of 

 hardened mud ; and I noticed that one, which enclosed a courtyard 

 where I lodged, was bored through by round holes in a score of 

 places. On asking the owner the cause of this, he bitterly com- 

 plained of the little casarita, several of which I afterwards observed 



