The _Dendrocolaptidæ_ fall into four subfamilies, all of which have representatives in Argentina. These are (1) the _Furnariinæ_, or Oven-birds, which are terrestrial in habits and have their feet adapted for this mode of life; (2) the _Sclerurinæ_, or Leaf-scrapers, known by their spiny tail, which keep to the ground inside the forests; (3) the _Synallaxinæ_, or Sharp-tails, mostly bush-frequenting birds; and (4) the _Dendrocolaptinæ_, or Wood-hewers, which have the habits of our Creepers (_Certhia_), and use their tail as a climbing-organ. All the members of this great family feed exclusively on insects. Subfam. I. _FURNARIINÆ._ 176. GEOSITTA CUNICULARIA (Vieill.). (COMMON MINER.) +Geositta cunicularia+, _Burm. La-Plata Reise_, ii. p. 405 (Mendoza, Paraná); _Scl. et Salv. Nomencl._ p. 61; _Durnford, Ibis_, 1877, p. 178 (Buenos Ayres), et 1878, p. 395 (Chupat); _Barrows, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Cl._ viii. p. 203 (Entrerios). +Geositta tenuirostris+, _White, P. Z. S._ 1882, p. 609 (Salta). _Description._--Above nearly uniform earthy brown; wing-feathers pale cinnamon-red; greater part of the outer webs, excepting the inner secondaries and a transverse bar across the secondaries, blackish; tail pale cinnamon-red, with a broad blackish band across the terminal half; beneath pale fulvous white, breast more or less variegated with blackish; under wing-coverts pale cinnamomeous; bill horn-colour, pale at the base; feet horn-colour: whole length 5·5 inches, wing 3·5, tail 2·0. _Female_ similar. _Hab._ Chili, Patagonia and Argentina. The country people have a variety of names for this common and well-known species. In Buenos Ayres it is usually called _Manea-cola_ (Shake-tail), in Patagonia _Caserita_ (Little House-builder), and in other places _Minera_ (Miner) or _Caminante_ (Traveller), from its habit of running rapidly along a clean road or bridle-path before a person riding or walking. It is a stout little bird, with very short toes quite unsuited for perching, and it does not, in fact, ever perch on a tree, though it manages to cling to a perpendicular bank very well, when engaged in opening its breeding-hole. It is resident and pairs for life, and lives in sterile places, feeding on small insects and spiders. In manner it is very lively, and runs swiftly over the bare ground, stopping very abruptly, then running on again, and at every pause slowly moving its half-open tail up and down. It flies swiftly, close to the ground, and always during its short flight trills out its clear, ringing, rapidly reiterated cry, which in sound resembles the laughter of a child.