. Cassell's natural history. Animals; Animal behavior. NATURAL HISTORY. twenty species comprised in about forty genera. Considerable variation exists in the form of tliese birds, some of wiijcli, as in the genus Xiphocolaptes, attain the dimensions of a good-sized Wood- pecker, while some are very minute. The family is divided by Messrs. Sclater and Salviu into four sub-families, viz., tlie Furnariinoi, or Oven Bii-ds, the Sclerurince, containing but one genus, Sckniras, the Synallaxiiue, or Spine-tails, and the Dendrocolaptinw, or Woodhewers. Mr. Edward Bartlett, who travelled for some time i
. Cassell's natural history. Animals; Animal behavior. NATURAL HISTORY. twenty species comprised in about forty genera. Considerable variation exists in the form of tliese birds, some of wiijcli, as in the genus Xiphocolaptes, attain the dimensions of a good-sized Wood- pecker, while some are very minute. The family is divided by Messrs. Sclater and Salviu into four sub-families, viz., tlie Furnariinoi, or Oven Bii-ds, the Sclerurince, containing but one genus, Sckniras, the Synallaxiiue, or Spine-tails, and the Dendrocolaptinw, or Woodhewers. Mr. Edward Bartlett, who travelled for some time in the upper districts of the Amazon river, met with two species of Furnarius, or Oven Bird. Of the Furnarius torridus, he says :â" This bird builds its nest in the banks near the water, like the Swallow or Kingfisher; it is composed of fine sticks and bents very loosely put together. The eggs are four in number and of a creamy white colour, oblong in ; Of the smaller Oven Bird, the same author relates :â" This interesting little fellow, very diflferent in habits from the preceding species, builds its nest of mud on the bough of a tree. The nest is and consists of an inner chamber, the entrance to which is by a passage formed on one side. The chamlier is lined with fine long grass fibres, hairs, (fee. Tlie eggs are white, and four in ; Writing of the Rufous Oven Bird, Mr. Darwin observes :â"This bird is common in Banda Oriental, on the banks of the Plata; but I did not see it farther southward. It is called by the Spaniards Casaro, or House-builder, from the very singular nest which it Tlie most exposed situation, as on the top of a post, the stem of an opuntia, or bare rock, is chosen. The nest consists of mud and bits of straw ; it is very strong, and the sides are thick. In shape it resembles a depressed beehive or oven, and hence the name of the genus. Directly in front of the mouth of the nest, which is large and
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjecta, booksubjectanimals
