112 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



twenty species comprised in about forty genera. Considerable variation exists in the form of these 

 birds, some of which, as in the genus Xiphocolaptes, attain the dimensions of a good-sized Wood- 

 pecker, while some are very minute. The family is divided by Messrs. Sclater and Salvin into four 

 sub-families, viz., the Furnariince, or Oven Birds, the Sclerurince, containing but one genus, Sclerwrue, 

 the Synallaxince, or Spine-tails, and the Dendrocolaptincje, or Woodhewers. Mr. Edward Bartlett, 

 who travelled for some time in the upper districts of the Amazon river, met with two species of 

 Furnarius, or Oven Bird. Of the Furnarius torridus, he says : " This bird builds its nest in the 

 banks near the water, like the Swallow or Kingfisher ; it is composed of fine sticks and bents very 

 loosely put together. The eggs are four in number and of a creamy white colour, oblong in shape." 

 Of the smaller Oven Bird, the same author relates : "This interesting little fellow, very different in 

 habits from the preceding species, builds its nest of mud on the bough of a tree. The nest is round, 



BVSH-TFREX. 



and consists of an inner chamber, the entrance to which is by a passage formed on one side. The 

 chamber is lined with fine long grass fibres, hairs, &c. The eggs are white, and four in number." 

 Writing of the Rufous Oven Bird, Mr. Darwin observes : "This bird is common in Banda Oriental, on 

 the banks of the Plata ; but I did not see it farther southward. It is called by the Spaniards Casaro, 

 or House-builder, from the very singular nest which it constructs. The most exposed situation, as on 

 the top of a post, the stem of an opuntia, or bare rock, is chosen. The nest consists of mud and bits of 

 straw ; it is very strong, and the sides are thick. In shape it resembles a depressed beehive or oven, 

 and hence the name of the genus. Directly in front of the mouth of the nest, which is large and arched, 

 there is a partition, which reaches nearly to the roof, thus forming a passage or ante-chamber to the 

 true nest. At Maldonado, in the end of May, the bird was busy in building. The Fi'i'uriritis is 

 very common in Banda Oriental ; it often haunts the bushes in the neighbourhood of houses. It is an 

 active bird, and both walks and runs quickly, and generally by starts. It feeds chiefly on coleoptera. 

 It often utters a peculiar, loud, shrill, and quickly reiterated cry."* 



Mr. Darwin, in the same work, also describes the habits of another species, Fnrnarii's a/nicii- 



* Darwin : "Voyage of the Beagle" (Birds). 



