496 



PASSEEINES. 



early frosts of winter. They are found difiPused over all the South 

 of EurojDe. 



The PicuMNus {Climaderis picumnus, Temm.) have fonn and 

 habits very similar to the CreeiDer, hut the beak is stronger and 

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



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

 pairs in the plains of Chili, Brazil, and Gruiana. 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 in the form 



Fig. 209. — Fumarius {Fiirnarius, Lesson). 



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

 tree.?, on palisades, or on the window of a house. It is remarkable 

 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 ihe interior is divided bj' a partition into two 

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

 the female laj's her eggs. The male and female alternately bring 

 small balls of earth, out of which the ediiice 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 ; 



