126 THE USEFUL BIRDS 



BELL-BIRD 



(Crested Oreotca), 



Oreoica cristata, Lewin. 



0-re-oi'ka kris-ta'ta. 

 Oros, a mountain ; oikos, dwelling ; crista, a crest {cristata, tufted). 

 Oreoica gutturalis, Gould, " Birds of Australia," fol., vol. ii., pi. 81. 

 Geographical Distribution. — Areas 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9. 



Key to the Species. — Male — Crest deep brownish-black ; upper sur- 

 face reddish-brown ; forehead and lores white ; black stripe extends 

 over cheeks and unites with black of lower throat ; chin and upper 

 parts of tlu-oat white ; upper part of breast deep brownish-black ; 

 lower breast and abdomen white. Total length, 8.5 inches. 



Female — Lighter in colour ; lower throat and upper breast nearly 

 uniform reddish-brown. 



The Crested Bell-bird is an inhabitant of the lower reaches of 

 the Murray River and north and west throughout the con- 

 tinent. It is not to be confused with the Bell-bird of the 

 forest land of S.E. Australia, which is correctly termed the 

 Bell-Minah, being classed as a Honey-eater with the Native 

 Minah. 



The Oreoica cristata is the only species of the genus, and is 

 confined entirely to this continent. The actions are spirited 

 — a series of hops — and when disturbed a flight into the 

 nearest tree. The bulk of its food is found near or upon the 

 ground, consisting, as it does, of insects, their larvae, and 

 seeds. Id many respects it is like the Collyriocinclse that 

 frequent the drier regions. It stays in the same district 

 during the winter and the summer, and in October sets about 

 the preparations for rearing a first brood. 



Mr. Gilbert, the able coadjutor of Gould, describes accu- 

 rately the vocal powers of the species. " The most singular 

 feature," says Gilbert, " connected with this bird is that it is 



