320 Passekes. BIKDS. CEimiiAD.E. 
cise ; tlie different chambers and passages in the interior 
of the nest may also be of service in enabling them to 
escape and conceal themselves from any threatened 
danger. There are several nearly allied species which 
appear to have the same habits. Their food 
consists of insects, worms, and small mollusca, 
which they often seek upon the ground. 
THE BED OVEN-BIRD {Furnarius rufiis). 
Amongst the species of this family found in 
the warmer parts of South America, there are 
some to wdiich the name of Oven-birds has 
been given, from the nature of the nest which 
they construct. The Red Oven-bird, which is 
one of the best known species, is about eight 
inches in length, and has the whole upper part 
of the bod}" of a reddish-brown colour, and the 
lower surface white, with the flanks reddish- 
brown. It builds its nest always in an exposed 
situation, such as a naked branch, the palisades 
of a garden, or the windows of a house ; 
forming it of earth, in the shape of a small 
oven. The nest is hemispherical in its form, 
and about six inches and a half in diameter ; 
both sexes engage in its construction by 
bringing small pellets of clay, and working 
them into the edifice, and they carry on their 
operations so energetically, that they often 
complete the nest in two days. The opening 
is on one side, and the interior is divided by a 
partition into two chambers, in the inner of which the 
eggs are deposited. These nests are made use of for 
several successive years. This species, which occurs 
in the countries of La Plata, feeds like its allies upon 
insects, which it captures both on trees and on the 
ground. It is a gay and sprightly bird, perching and 
running with great agility. 
THE SOUTHERN CINCLODES [Cinclodes antarctica). 
Rome species of this family nearly allied to the Oven- 
birds, and forming tlie genus Cindodes, are found 
ju'incipally upon the western coast of South America, 
especially towards the southern extremity of that con- 
tinent, where they examine the sea-weeds tlu’own upon 
the shore, picking up the worms and small Crustacea 
which adhere to them. According to Mr. Darwin, 
they may also be seen upon the floating fronds of the 
Fucits giganteiis at some distance from land. The 
present species measures about five inches and a half 
in length, and is of a light sooty-brown colour, with a 
tawny band across the wings. It is found especially 
at the Falkland islands, where Pernetty states that it 
is so familiar that it will almost fly upon the finger, and 
that he killed ten in less than half an hour with a small 
stick almost without changing his position. 
THE COMMON WREN ( Troglodytes vulgaris) . Besides 
the preceding forms, the family Certhiadse includes our 
common Briti.sh Wren, together with a considerable 
number of allied birds, distributed in all parts of the 
world. We can only refer to a few of the most remark- 
able of those. The common Eurojtean Wren — fig. 108 
— is one of the smallest of our British birds, measuring 
only about four inches in length ; its general colour is 
brown, streaked in parts with alternate lighter and 
darker shades; the quill leathers of the wings and 
short tail are reddish-brown, with transverse black 
bars, and the throat and breast are whitish ; the latter 
speckled with brown. The Wren is generally dispersed 
over the British islands, and, indeed, in all parts of 
Fig. los 
The Common Wren (Troglodytes vulgaris). 
Europe ; and although strictly an insectivorous bird, 
it is a permanent inhabitant of these climates, and is 
even said to become more abundant towards the north. 
It is also found in Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and 
Greenland. During the severe weather of winter the 
Wrens usually approach the habitations of man, not 
unfrequently roosting in cow-houses, where the air is 
warmed by the presence of the cattle, or squeezing 
themselves in small parties into holes in thatch or 
walls, where their close approximation enables them 
to keep each other warm. In the spring, the wren 
resorts to the hedgerows, but even then continues to 
frequent the neighbourhood of gardens and farms, and 
this apparent familiarity and confidence in man, 
coupled no doubt with the diminutive size of the 
creature, renders this bii'd everywhere almost as great 
a favourite as the Robin. Nevertheless, a curious 
practice has prevailed from time immemorial in the 
south of Ireland, of hunting this harmless little bird on 
Christmas-day ; the hedges are beaten w"ith sticks, and 
when the unfortunate little creature is driven from its 
concealment, it is struck down with a second stick 
cari-ied by each hunter. On St. Stephen’s day the 
dead birds are hung by the children on an ivy bush 
decorated with bright ribbons, which they carry about 
with songs, and collect money “ to bury the wren.” 
This piece of cruel folly is now falling into disuse. 
The Wren flies but little, and only for short distances. 
When disturbed and driven out of one part of the 
hedge, ho takes a little flight to another place, and 
then plunges into the bushes, and creeps through them 
often clo.se to the ground, like a mou.se. The male 
sings throughout the greater part of the year: his notes 
are .shrill and lively. The nest of the Wren is large in 
