102 THE HUMAN SIDE OF BIRDS 



musicians join in a regular beat that is very pleas- 

 ant to hear. 



The bell-bird of Brazil, also called the naked- 

 throated cotinga, makes a most wonderful music, 

 suggestive of cathedral chimes. When its notes 

 are repeated slowly they have a bell-like quality 

 that is marvellous to hear ; in quick succession they 

 sound like the ringing blows of a hammer on an 

 anvil. This peculiarity has won for him the name 

 of ferreiro, or smith, among the Portuguese. 



This strange bird seems to guess the power of 

 his music, and with the feeling of a true artist he 

 delights in choosing befitting occasions for his most 

 impressive performances. Often he perches on a 

 high bare tree, above gun-shot range, and ruffling 

 his beautiful white plumage he sends his church-like 

 notes resounding over hill and dale. There is 

 scant wonder that many legends have grown up 

 among the aborigines about him. 



All bird musicians seem to feel the artistic fit- 

 ness of their music to the surroundings, the season, 

 and the weather, and with astonishing fidelity tone 

 it to the prevailing shade. The cardinal sings a 

 pensive song at twilight, the robin gives a few 

 notes of meditative quality for his good-night song 

 in the hush of evening, the skylark springs up 

 singing to meet the first bright rays of the rising 



