158 THE POE BIRD. 



In its habits it is partly gregarious, being seen in little flocks, perhaps families, of six or 

 seven in number, flitting about the tops of lofty trees and ever in active motion. Partly on 

 account of the great elevation at which it loves to dwell, and partly because of the extreme 

 shyness and wariness of its disposition, the gunner finds considerable difficulty in approach- 

 ing within gunshot, so that, although the bird is so common, it is not very often shot. In its 

 flight it is strong and steady, not contenting itself with mere flittings from tree to tree, but on 

 occasion launching boldly into the air, and shaping its course for some distant point. In taking 

 these aerial journeys it always commences by rising perpendicularly to a very great height, and 

 then, after having settled the direction in which it intends to go, it shoots off with a swift and 

 steady flight. 



Another of these birds, the Garrulous Honey-eater, so named on account of its singu- 

 larly talkative propensities, is a native of Van Diemen's Land and New South Wales, in both 

 of which localities it is very common. 



It enjoys, however, but a very limited range, being contained within certain boundaries 

 witli such remarkable strictness, that in some cases it is found in great numbers on one side of 

 a river, while on the other side not a single bird can be seen. Those which inhabit Van Die- 

 men's Land are rather larger than those of New South Wales, the greater size being probably 

 caused by a greater profusion and more nourishing properties of the food. The Garrulous 

 Honey-eater generally takes up its habitation among the thick forests of eucalypti that are 

 found upon the plains and the hills of low elevation, and there passes a very lively existence. 

 Its I'ood consists of the sweet nectar of flowers, which it procures after the manner of Honey- 

 eaters in general, by plunging its loni;- tongue into the depths of the flowers, and licking up 

 their luscious store. It also feeds upon various insects, being always ready to eat those minute 

 creatures which inhabit the flowers, and delighting also in chasing the beetles and larger insects 

 as they run upon the ground at the foot of the eucalypti. 



Another very curious species of Honey-eater is placed in the same genus, and attracts 

 admiration, not so much on account of its plumage or its interesting habits, as on account of 

 its voice, which is so bell-like in its tone that the colonists know it by the popular name of 

 Bell Bird. This species must not, however, be confounded with the Bell Bird, or Arapunga, 

 of tropical America, which belongs to a totally different tribe. Moreover, the voice of the two 

 birds is very different ; that of the Arapunga resembling the slow, solemn tolling of a church- 

 bell, while that of the Australian Bell Bird is wonderfully similar to the sharp, merry tinkle 

 of the sheep-bell. The scientific name for the Australian Bell Bird is Myzantha TrielanopJirys. 



In his " Gleanings of a Naturalist," Dr. Bennett speaks as follows of this curious little 

 bird :- 



"Among the dense forest trees skirting the margins of the rivers, the note of the Bell 

 Bird is almost incessantly heard ; it is sometimes uttered by a solitary bird, and at others by 

 many congregated together: this I observed on the banks of the Nepean river, in October, 

 when I saw them in greater numbers than usual. The Bell Bird is named GiJniUa by the 

 blacks of the Mnrrumbidgee district. The peculiar tinkling sound made by this little bird is 

 heard with delight by the wearied and thirsty traveller, as an indication of water near at hand. 

 I have also heard these birds utter loud, garrulous notes. At the Nepean they sported among 

 the branches of the trees in search of insects, and I remember that the tinkling note was uttered 

 while they were quietly perched upon a branch, but the garrulous notes were used only when 

 they were seen flitting in sportive gaiety amid the branches of the trees. 1 '' 



Among this group of birds the Poe Bird, Tue, or Parson Bird, is one of the most con- 

 spicuous, being nearly as remarkable for its peculiar coloring as the rifle bird itself, although 

 the hues of its feathers are not quite so resplendently brilliant as in that creature. 



The Poe Bird is a native of New Zealand, where it is far from uncommon, and is captured 

 by the natives for the purpose of sale. Many individuals are brought over to Sydney, where, 

 according to Dr. Bennett, they are kept in cages, and are very amusing in their habits, being 



