112 



BAHIA BLANCA. 



Aug. 1833. 



those which^ from its varied relations^ although at present 

 offering only difficulties to the systematic naturalist^ ulti- 

 mately may assist in revealing the grand scheme,, common to 

 the present and past ages^ on which organized beings have 

 been created. 



I may also briefly notice the genus Furnarius. It 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 op- 

 posed to that family in every habit. The best known species 

 is the common oven-bird of La Plata, the Casara or house- 

 maker of the Spaniards, and Furnarius rufus of Viell. 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 precisely 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 ante- 

 chamber to the true nest. 



Another and smaller species of Furnarius, something like 

 a lark in appearance, resembles the oven-bird in many 

 points, as in the general reddish tint of its plumage, a 

 peculiar shrill reiterated cry, an odd manner of running by 

 starts, &c. 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. The bird chooses any low bank of firm sandy soil 

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

 the walls are built of hardened mud ; and I noticed that one, 

 which enclosed a courtyard where I lodged, was penetrated 

 by round holes in a score of places. On asking the owner 



