OVEN BlEi). — Furnarius fuliginosus . 
We how leave the humming-birds and come to the creepers. 
The Oven-birds derive their name from the peculiar form of their nest. 
The edifice, for it fully deserves that name, is of considerable dimensions when 
compared with the small size of its architect, and is built in the shape of a dome, 
the entrance being on one side, so as to present a decided resemblance to an 
ordinary oven. The walls of the nest are fully an inch in thickness, and the 
materials of which the structure is composed are clay, grass, and various kinds of 
vegetable substances, which are woven and plastered together in so workmanlike 
a manner, that the nest is quite hard and firm when the clay has been dried in 
the sun. The bird seems to be conscious of the security of its nest, for it takes 
no pains to conceal its habitation, but builds openly upon some exposed spot, 
such as the large leafless branch of a tree, the top of palings, or even the interior 
of houses or barns. 
The Oven-bird is a bold little creature, caring nothing for the close 
proximity of man, and attacking fiercely any other bird that might happen to 
approach too closely to its residence, screeching defiantly the while. It is a 
quick, active bird, tripping over the ground with great rapidity while searching 
after its prey, and is almost invariably found in company with its mate. 
The Oven-bird is not content with barely building this curious domed 
structure, but adds to its security by separating it into two parts, by means of a 
partition reaching nearly to the roof, the eggs being placed in the inner chamber. 
The bed on which the eggs are placed consists mostly of feathers and soft 
grasses. The number of the eggs is generally about four. 
