OF THE UNITED STATES 361 



species is the common Oven-bird of La Plata, the Casara, or 

 housemaker, 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 mud and bits 

 of straw, and has strong^ thick walls; in shape it precisely resem- 

 bles an oven, or depressed beehive. The opening is^large and 



FIG. 89. (Upper figure) NEST OF OVEN-BIKD (Furnarivs). 



FIG. 90. (Lower figure) VERTICAL SECTION OF THE SAME NEST 

 OF OVEN-BIRD SHOWN IN FIG. 89. 



Both drawings by the Author, after Newton. 



arched, and directly in front ; within the nest there is a partition, 

 which reaches nearly to the roof, thus forming a passage or ante- 

 chamber to the true nest." (Vol. I, pp. 121, 122). 



In Part III of Newton's Dictionary of Birds at pages 669 and 

 670, 1 find two excellent drawings of the nest of Furnarius rufus, 



