350 
THE LIVING WORLD. 
turtle emerging from its sandy birthplace. It remains then above ground 
•during the daytime, but is covered up again at night by the male parent-bird 
for three successive nights, when it is sufficiently developed to take wing. 
The Oven-Bird (Furndrius fuliginosus) is a rather small South American 
bird, specially distinguished for its very curious, oven-like nest, from whence 
the common name is derived. The North American species is called the Golden 
Crowned Thrush (Sciurus aurocapillus ), but the size and nesting-habits of both 
species are very similar, except that the former frequently builds its nest in 
trees, or on other elevations, of clay 
and grasses, while the latter invaria¬ 
bly, I believe, builds upon the ground 
and uses no clay in the composition 
of its nest. They are closely allied 
to the creepers, about the size of a 
lark, and are splendid climbers as 
well as runners. The nest, about 
which centres the chief interest 
connected with the bird, is generally 
shaped like an inverted kettle, or 
a bee-hive, with pntrance at the 
base. Its walls are very thick, but 
to this strengthening provision are 
added other means for increasing 
its resistance to the rough usage 
of the wind, rain or violence. If 
one of the nests be carefully di¬ 
vided, the observer will see that the 
interior is even more singular than 
the outside. Crossing the nest from 
side to side is a wall, or partition, 
made of the same materials as the 
outer shell, and reaching nearly to 
the top of the dome, thus dividing 
the nest into two chambers, and 
having also the effect of strengthen¬ 
ing the whole structure. The inner 
chamber is devoted to the work of 
incubation, and within is a soft bed 
of feathers on which the eggs are 
south AMERICAN oven bird. placed. The female sits upon them 
in this dark chamber, and the outer 
room is probably used by her mate. The reader will remember instances of 
•such supplementary nests having already been mentioned. The eggs are gen¬ 
erally four in number. 
Both sexes work at the construction of the nest, and seem to find the 
labor rather long and severe, as they are continually employed in fetching- 
clay, grass and other materials, or in working them together with their bills. 
While thus engaged they are very jealous of the presence of other birds, and 
•drive them away fiercely, screaming shrilly as they attack the intruder. 
