V 
THE OVEN-BIRD 
99 
an inhabitant of the antarctic regions; it feeds on seaweed and 
shells on the tidal rocks. Although not web-footed, from some 
unaccountable habit it is frequently met with far out at sea. 
This small family of birds is one of those which, from its varied 
relations to other families, although at present offering only 
difficulties to the systematic naturalist, ultimately may assist in 
revealing the grand scheme, common to the present and past 
ages, on which organised beings have been created. 
The genus Furnarius 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 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 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 pre¬ 
cisely 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 and smaller species of Furnarius (F. cunicularius), 
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 nidffication 
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. It is rather curious to find how incapable these birds 
