496 



PASSERINES. 



early frosts of winter. They are found difiiised over all tlie South 

 of Europe. 



The PicuMNUs {Climacteris picumnus, Temm.) have form and 

 habits very similar to the Creeper, but the beak is stronger and 

 more boldly curved. They are natives of Brazil and Guiana. 



The FuRNAEius {Furnarius figulus, Spix.) live singly or in 

 pairs in the plains of Chili, Brazil, and Guiana. They feed princi- 

 pally on seeds, but also on insects. They take up their residence 

 with much confidence in the neighbourhood of man. Their nests 

 (Fig. 209) are remarkable for their construction, being iu the form 



rig. 209.— Fumaxius {Fumarius^ LessonJ. 



of an oven, whence their name. This structure it builds upon 

 trees, on palisades, or on the window of a house. It is rem^arkable 

 for its size as compared with its inhabitant, measuring not less 

 than from twelve to fourteen inches in diameter ; " it is entirely 

 formed of clay, and the interior is divided by a partition into two 

 compartments, the outer and inner, the latter being that in which 

 the female lays her eggs. The male and female alternately bring 

 small balls of earth, out of which the edifice is constructed, and 

 they labour so industriously that it is sometimes finished in two 

 days. Some species construct their nests on trees, interlacing 

 them with spiny branches, and providing one or many openings ; 



