BIRDS. 
65 
2. Furnarius cunicularius. G. JR. Gray. 
Alauda cunicularia, Vieill. 
Alauda fissirostra, Kittl. Mem. l’Acad. St. Peters, ii. pi. 3. 
Oerthilauda cunicularia, D'Orb. 8$ Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 
This bird has a considerable geographical range. On the eastern side of 
the continent it is found from about 40° (for I never saw one in the southern 
districts of Patagonia) northward to at least 30°, and perhaps much further. On 
the western side its southern limit is the neighbourhood of Concepcion, where 
the country becomes dry and open, and it ranges throughout Chile (specimens 
were procured from Valparaiso) to at least as far north as Lima, in lat. 12°, on the 
coast of Peru. I may here observe, that the northern limit of all birds, which are 
lovers of dry countries, such as this Furnarius and some of the species of Mimus, 
is not probably at Lima but near Cape Blanco, 10° south of the Equator, where 
the open and parched land of Peru blends (as it was described to me) rather 
suddenly into the magnificent forests of Guayaquil. This Furnarius constantly 
haunts the driest and most open districts ; and hence sand-dunes near the coast 
afford it a favourite resort. In La Plata, in Northern Patagonia, and in 
Central Chile, it is abundant : in the former country it is called Casarita, a name 
which has evidently been given from its relationship with the Casaro, or Fur- 
narius rufus, for, as we shall see, its nidification is very different. It is a very 
tame, most quiet, solitary little bird, and like the English robin ( Sylvia rubecula ) 
it is usually most active early in the morning and late in the evening. When 
disturbed it flies only to a short distance ; it is fond of dusting itself on the 
roads ; it walks and runs (but not very quickly), and generally by starts. I 
opened the stomachs of some, and found in them remains of Coleoptera, and 
chiefly Carabidae. At certain seasons it frequently utters a peculiar, shrill but 
gentle, reiterated cry, which is so quickly repeated as to produce one running 
sound. In this respect, and in its manner of walking on the ground, and in its 
food, this species closely resembles the Casaro, but in its quiet manners it differs 
widely from that active bird. Its nidification is likewise different, for it builds its 
nest at the bottom of a narrow cylindrical hole, which is said to extend horizon- 
tally 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. At the settlement of Bahia Blanca the walls 
are built of hardened mud ; and I noticed one, enclosing a courtyard, where I 
lodged, which was penetrated by round holes in a score of places. On asking 
the owner the cause of this, he bitterly complained of the little Casarita, several 
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