THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE 



107 



web-f60t6d, from Some unaccountable habit, it is frequently 

 met with far out at sea. This small family of birds is one 

 6f those which, from its varied relations to other families, 

 although at present offering only difficulties to the sys- 

 tematic naturalist, ultimately may assist in revealing the 

 grand scheme, common to the present and past ages, on 

 which organized beings have been created. 



The genus Furnarius contains several species, all small 

 birds, living on the ground, and inhabiting open dry coun- 

 tries. In structure they cannot be compared to any Eu- 

 ropean 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 ex- 

 posed 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 antechamber to the true nest. 



Another arid smaller species of Furnarius (F. cunicu- 

 larius), 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. 



