THE OVEN-BIRD 99 



an inhabitant of the antarctic regions ; it feeds on seaweed and 

 shells on the tidal rocks. Although not web-footed, from some 

 unaccountable habit it is frequently met with far out at sea. 

 This small family of birds is one of those which, from its varied 

 relations to other families, although at present offering only 

 difficulties to the systematic naturalist, ultimately may assist in 

 revealing the grand scheme, common to the present and past 

 ages, on which organised beings have been created. 



The genus Furnarius contains several species, all small 

 birds, living on the ground, and inhabiting open dry countries. 

 In structure they cannot be compared to any European form. 

 Ornithologists have generally included them among the creepers, 

 although opposed to that family in every habit. The best 

 known 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 pre- 

 cisely resembles an oven, or depressed beehive. The opening 

 is large and arched, and directly in front, within the nest, there 

 is a partition, which reaches nearly to the roof, thus forming a 

 passage or antechamber to the true nest. 



Another and smaller species of Furnarius (F. cunicularius), 

 resembles the oven-bird in the general reddish tint of its 

 plumage, in a peculiar shrill reiterated cry, and in an odd 

 manner of running by starts. From its affinity, the Spaniards 

 call it Casarita (or little housebuilder), although its nidification 

 is quite different. The Casarita builds its nest at the bottom 

 of a narrow cylindrical hole, which is said to extend horizontally 

 to nearly six feet under ground. Several of the country people 

 told me, that when boys, they had attempted to dig out the 

 nest, but had scarcely ever succeeded in getting to the end of 

 the passage. The bird chooses any low bank of firm sandy 

 soil by the side of a road or stream. Here (at Bahia Blanca) 

 the walls round the houses are built of hardened mud ; and I 

 noticed that one, which enclosed a courtyard where I lodged, 

 was bored through by round holes in a score of places. On 

 asking the owner the cause of this, he bitterly complained of 

 the little casarita, several of which I afterwards observed at 

 work. It is rather curious to find how incapable these birds 



