610 MR. E. W. WHITE ON BIRDS [June 20, 
work on Sunday, Oct. 9, 1881, but did little the first day except 
just trace out the foundation, as there was no mud obtainable, and 
they had to resort to water-tubs to form it ; but on Monday morning 
it poured for about six to eight hours, during which time the birds 
did not work. When the rain ceased, however, they began in right 
earnest, having plenty of material at hand. 
They generally took it in turns to build, one of them always re- 
maining inside doing the masonry, whilst the other brought in the 
mud; but at times both became masons and labourers. On Tuesday 
afternoon the nest was half built; but on Wednesday progress became 
lax, as the soil was drying up. 
On Thursday the hemispherical walls rose all round to the height 
of the bird, except where theentrance was to be ; and the inside archi- 
tect had thenceforward to stretch its neck and stand on tiptoe to 
complete the cupola, which it did in the direction of the entrance. 
In the construction of the roof much horsehair was mixed with 
the mud to strengthen it. 
On Saturday the roof was well advanced ; and now they commenced 
to insert the internal curved partition which, fronting the entrance, 
hinders a view of, and forms a passage into, the interior. 
This was a labour that occupied considerable time ; but on Sunday 
the 16th it rained again heavily, and thus lightened the toil of the 
industrious builders. 
On the Tuesday following the partition was finished, and it only 
remained to close up the entrance to the required height with a 
small section of roofing. This done, the dwelling was completed on 
Wednesday the 19th; and then but a short time was occupied in 
lining the inside with fine dry grass, and the whole was ready for 
occupation. The Oven-bird seems to lay only three eggs; but from 
one nest I once took four chicks; whilst I have found as many as 
three other species of bird’s eggs laid amongst those of F. rufus. 
The egg is milk-white and perfectly spotless. 
Meas.: axis 28 millim., diam. 21 millim. 
97. UpucertTuia LusciniA (Burm.). 
3. Fuerte de Andalgala, Catamarea, Arg. Rep., Sept. 2, 1880. 
2M = es oy rs Sept. 1, 1880. 
Iris sepia. 
Found about the hedges. Every time it springs from one twig to 
another it utters a sharp jerky whistle. 
98. CincLopes Fruscus (Vieill.). 
Q@. Pucard, Catamarca, Arg. Rep., Aug. 25, 1880. 
In the rocky quebrada (ravine) of Pucard, 7500 feet above sea- 
level, I met with this bird hopping from stone to stone in the stream 
in pursuit of insects, and at times it ran right into the water. 
99. ScLERURUS CAUDacUTUs (Vieill.). 
3. San Javier, Misiones, Arg. Rep., June 2, 1881. 
Iris dark. 
