64 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE. 



O. parvulus, can be considered as varieties of one species, then the experience of 

 all the best ornithologists must be given up, and whole genera must be blended 

 into one species. I cannot myself doubt that M. trifasciatus, and M. parvulus are 

 as distinct species as any that can be named in one restricted genus. 



The habits of these three species are similar, and they evidently replace each 

 other in the natural economy of the different islands ; nor can I point out any differ- 

 ence between their habits and those of M. Thenca of Chile ; I imagined, however, 

 that the tone of their voice was slightly different. They are lively, inquisitive, 

 active birds, and run fast ; (I cannot assert, positively, that M. Thenca runs). They 

 are so extremely tame, a character in common with the other birds of this Archipe- 

 lago, that one alighted on a cup of water which I held in my hand, and drank out 

 of it. They sing pleasantly ; their nest is said to be simple and open. They seem 

 to prefer the dry sterile regions nearer the coast, but they are likewise found in 

 the higher, damper and more fertile parts of the islands. To these latter situ- 

 ations, however, they seem chiefly attracted by the houses and cleared ground of 

 the colonists. I repeatedly saw the M. melanotis at James Island, tearing bits of 

 meat from the flesh of the tortoise, which was cut into strips and suspended to 

 dry, precisely in the same manner as I have so often observed the M. Orpheus, in 

 La Plata, attacking the meat hung up near the Estancias. 



1. Furnaeius rufus. Vieill. 



Furnarius rufus, Vieill., Ency. Meth. 513. 



Merops rufus, Gmel. PL enl. 739. 



Opetiorhynchus rufus, Tern. Man. 



Turdus vadius, Licht. Cat. 



Figulus albogularis, Spix. Av. pi. lxxviii. f. 1 & 2. 



Foumier, Buff., Azara, No. 221. 



This bird is common in Banda Oriental, on the banks of the Plata ; but I 

 did not see it further southward. It is called by the Spaniards Casaro, or house- 

 builder, from the very singular nest which it constructs. The most exposed 

 situation, as on the top of a post, the stem of an opuntia, or bare rock, is chosen. 

 The nest consists of mud and bits of straw ; it is very strong, and the sides are 

 thick ; in shape it resembles a depressed beehive or oven, and hence the name of 

 the genus. Directly in front of the mouth of the nest, which is large and arched, 

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

 ante-chamber to the true nest. At Maldonado, in the end of May, the bird was 

 busy in building. The Furnarius is very common in Banda Oriental ; it often 

 haunts the bushes in the neighbourhood of houses ; it is an active bird, and 

 both walks and runs quickly, and generally by starts ; it feeds chiefly on Coleop- 

 tera ; it often utters a peculiar, loud, shrill, and quickly reiterated cry. 



