Eeischek. — Notes on Ornithology. I8t 



the Mokau to the Bay of Islands, and across from one coast to 

 the other, but never again observed it. I attribute its dis- 

 appearance to cats, rats, bees, and bush-fires. The first time 

 I saw this bird in the South Island was in the forests on Banks 

 Peninsula, in 1877, and again in the same year on my trip to 

 the west coast, where I found it common. In the North Island 

 I could not discover it on the mainland, but on visiting Morotiri 

 Island, April, 1880; Hauturu Island, October, 1880; and 

 Taranga Island in November, 1880, I found them plentiful. In 

 December, 1880, on my second visit to Morotiri Island, I found 

 that the birds had materially decreased in number. On my 

 second trip to Hauturu Island in October, 1882, at the centre of 

 the island, I found the bird at home, morning and evening. I 

 had a concert near my nikau whare, from 10 to 20 birds of both 

 sexes sitting on the trees and singing in chorus together. The 

 morning and evening song differs from that during the day, the 

 morning and evening notes consisting of three distmct sounds 

 resembling the chimes of bells, from which I suppose the bird 

 derived its name. The song during the day is more of a warb- 

 ling sound. One gives the signal to begin, with a snap of the 

 bill, and all the birds join in the chime, keeping perfect time 

 together until the leader, with another snap, gives the signal 

 for a rest. After a few minutes rest, the chiming song is 

 repeated. 



In September, male and female begin to build the nest, of 

 small branches and moss, lined with feathers, in thick branches 

 of trees fi-om 20 to 50 feet above the ground ; and I have also 

 found nests in hollow trees. In October the female lays from 

 4 to 5 white eggs with light-red spots, which they hatch together, 

 and both parents feed the young brood. When leaving the nest, 

 the male looks after his family till they are able to take care of 

 themselves. At the approach of danger I have seen a male 

 knocking a young bird from a branch when it would not listen 

 to his call. 



This bird is very bold and tame ; it lives on insects, berries, 

 and honey from trees and flowers, especially the flax blossoms 

 {Phormium tcnax), which in some places grows in great abun- 

 dance, and has a quantity of honey in the calyx, into which 

 the Bell -bird inserts his bushy tongue to suck out the honey. 

 On the Little Barrier, on the 10th December, 1883, I found 

 three nests under a bunch of tussock (a parasite growing on a 

 tree), completely sheltered from wind and rain, 20 feet above 

 the ground. In each nest there were 4 birds; I took one nest, 

 to ascertain if the bird could be kept in confinement. After 

 having them in my care for several days, during which I fed 

 them on soaked biscuit mixed with honey, and cooked potatoes, 

 they got on well ; but, through the carelessness of my assistant, 

 they escaped. 



