THE SEARCHERS. igi 



firmly into place, intennixed with small portions of plants, until the foundation is some eight or nine 

 inches high. On each end of this groundwork the birds proceed to erect a side wall of such a 

 form and height as to give the entire mass the appearance of a half-crescent. When this foundation is 

 quite dry a second wall of similar shape is erected within the first. This again is left to dry, and so 

 the work proceeds until the mass has assumed the proper dome-like form, and is six or seven inches 

 in height, eight or nine inches long, and some four or five inches deep. The interior of this remarkable 

 structure (which sometimes weighs as much as nine pounds) is entered by an oval-shaped hole at 

 the side, and is neatly and warmly lined with hay, cotton, wool, feathers, or similar materials. The 

 eggs, from two to four in number, have a white shell, and are incubated by both parents. The first 

 brood is produced early in September, and a second later in the season. 



The GROUND WOODPECKERS (Geositta) are birds with slender bodies, long, pointed wings, 

 and short incised tails ; the slightly curved beak is triangular at its base, and nearly equals the head 

 in length ; the legs are of medium height, the outer toes short, and the claws small 



THE BURROWING GROUND WOODPECKER. 



The Burrowing Ground Woodpecker ( Geositia amicularia) is of a deep brown on the upper 

 portions of the body and wings ; the under side is pale brown, the throat whitish, breast spotted and 

 striped with black, and the belly rust-red. The region of the eye is pale red, the shoulder-feathers 

 have light edges, and the exterior quills are bordered and tipped with blackish brown, and shaded 

 with red upon the inner web. The eye is bro-ivn, the beak whitish at its base and black towards its 

 tip ; the feet are blackish brown. According to Kittlitz these birds inhabit the barren plains of Chili 

 and Patagonia, and are met with on the Bolivian Cordilleras to a height of from 3,500 to 4,500 feet 

 above the level of the sea. We learn from the same authority tliat in its general habits the Geositta 

 amicularia closely resembles the Common Lark. 



" The Casaeita, as this bird is called by the natives," says Darwin, " builds its nest at the bottom 

 of a narrow cylindrical hole, which is said to extend horizontally to nearly six feet under ground, in 

 any low bank of sandy soil by the side of a wood or stream. Here, at Bahia Blanca, the walls of 

 those I have seen are built of hardened mud. I noticed that a bank that enclosed the court)-ard of 

 the house where I lodged was penetrated by round holes in a score of places. On asking the o\vner 

 the cause of this, he explained that they were made by the Casaeitas, several of which I afterwards saw 

 at work. It is strange that though the birds were constantly flitting over the low wall they were 

 evidently incapable of forming an idea as to its thickness, otherwise they would not have made so 

 many vain attempts. I do not doubt that each bird as it came to daylight on tlie opposite side was 

 greatly surprised at the marvellous fact." 



Gray tells us that this species is extremely tame, and almost constantly in motion. The stomachs 

 of such as he examined contained the remains of beetles ; whilst Kittlitz mentions having only found 

 seeds and small stones. At certain seasons the call is a shrill, tremulous note. 



The STAIR-BEAKS (Xenops) are a group of Brazilian birds, possessing a very peculiar forma- 

 tion of beak, the lower mandible being graduated upwards, whilst the upper portion of the bill is 

 quite straight. The tail is formed of soft, rounded feathers, and the feet are powerful. 'W'e leam 

 from the Prince von Wied that the members of this group associate in pairs, or small parties, and lead 

 a very quiet, retired life within their native forests. Their food consists principally of insects, and 

 whilst in search of these they tap upon the bark of the tree after the manner of the '\\^oodpecker. 

 According to our own experience they will also eat some kinds of nuts. The nest is usually placed in 



