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Show 610 MR. E. w. W H I T E O N BIRDS [June 20, work on Sunday, Oct. 9, 1881, but did little the first day except just trace out the foundation, as there was no mud obtainable, and they had to resort to water-tubs to form it; but on Monday morning it poured for about six to eight hours, during which time the birds did not work. When the rain ceased, however, they began in right earnest, having plenty of material at hand. They generally took it in turns to build, one of them always remaining inside doing the masonry, whilst the other brought in the mud; but at times both became masons and labourers. On Tuesday afternoon the nest was half built; but on Wednesday progress became lax, as the soil was drying up. O n Thursday the hemispherical walls rose all round to the height of the bird, except where the entrance was to be ; and the inside architect had thenceforward to stretch its neck and stand on tiptoe to complete the cupola, which it did in the direction of the entrance. In the construction of the roof much horsehair was mixed with the mud to strengthen it. On Saturday the roof was well advanced ; and now they commenced to insert the internal curved partition which, fronting the entrance, hinders a view of, and forms a passage into, the interior. This was a labour that occupied considerable time ; but on Sunday the 16th it rained again heavily, and thus lightened the toil of the industrious builders. On the Tuesday following the partition was finished, and it only remained to close up the entrance to the required height with a small section of roofing. This done, the dwelling was completed on Wednesday the 19th ; and then but a short time was occupied in lining the inside with fine dry grass, and the whole was ready for occupation. The Oven-bird seems to lay only three eggs; but from one nest I once took four chicks; whilst I have found as many as three other species of bird's eggs laid amongst those of F. rufus. The egg is milk-white and perfectly spotless. Meas.: axis 28 millim., diam. 21 millim. 97. UPUCERTHIA LUSCINIA (Burm.). cf. Fuerte de Andalgala, Catamarca, Arg. Rep., Sept. 2, 1880. 2: » „ „ „ Sept. 1, 1880. Iris sepia. Found about the hedges. Every time it springs from one twig to another it utters a sharp jerky whistle. 98. CINCLODES FUSCUS (Vieill.). 2 • Pucara, Catamarca, Arg. Rep., Aug. 25, 1880. In the rocky quebrada (ravine) of Pucara, 7500 feet above sea-level, I met with this bird hopping from stone to stone in the stream in pursuit of insects, and at times it ran right into the water. 99. SCLERURUS CAUDACUTUS (Vieill.). cf. San Javier, Misiones, Arg. Rep., June 2, 1881. Iris dark. |