The Naked-ih}oated Bell-Bird—and his Battles. 247


by quoting Mr. Harding, as his language is more temperate than

any I feel disposed to use on so sore a subject : —“The voice of

this bird .... was as music in my ears, but my neighbours took

a less romantic view and heartily welcomed its untimely demise.”

He lived with me for over twenty-six months, but in 1890 was

left out in the garden until too late in the season, caught a chill,

and expired before the close of the year. Both died oj pulmonary

consumption from over exposure.


Not in any book of travels or natural history have I ever

found a reference to the manner in which this species, and per¬

haps the genus, conducts its battles ; and as it would be a sore

loss to mankind were the treasured secret to go down into the

grave with me, I will now divulge it, so that our Minister for

War, even at this the eleventh hour, may know how to teach

Young England how to fight.


No. 2, when received, was placed in a roomy six-foot-long

cage, with a perch running down the centre from end to end,

along with the first arrival. The birds took up their positions at

opposite ends of the cage, and soon let it be known, both by

voice and gesture, that neither was pleased at the presence of

the other; but as each persistently turned his back upon the

intruder—just to shew his contempt for the fellow, and as for the

most part a clear space of nearly three feet was kept between the

rival camps, their swellings and threatenings, although ostensibly

very alarming, did not seem likely to result in broken bones ; so

I disregarded the warnings of impending disaster—and had to

pay the penalty, as one so often has to when ignorance prevails.


In military tactics, a “ strategical movement to the rear,”

although privately recognised, is publicly frowned upon ; all the

same, with Bell-Birds, a three-quarters movement to the rear

seems to be the usual order of attack.


Moving simultaneously backwards, very slowly it must be

admitted, from either end of the cage along the central perch,

inch by inch, with many blusterings and blowings, bowings and

scrapings, tail opposed to tail, and with heads as far removed

from the danger zone as circumstances permitted, each with face

slightly turned and with a wary wicked eye like to that of a

kicking horse, they would near to within some eighteen inches



