56 



No. 11. — Anthoenis melanura, Sparrm. 

 Koromako. 

 Bell-bird. 



Everyone who has rambled through the bush, or even strayed amongst 

 the shrubby thickets that fringe our numerous gullies, must have become 

 familiar with the clear metallic ring of the Bell-bird's note. It may be said 

 to sing matins and vespers for the warblers of the bush, as it is at the grey 

 break of dawn, and the still hour that closes in the day, that its chime strikes 

 clearest on the ear. It is comparatively silent during the noontide heat, unless 

 some few individuals meet on a tree or shrub, that offers a tempting show of 

 honey-bearing blossoms, a note or two is briefly sounded, the numbers rapidly 

 increase • after much noisy fluttering of wings, a gush of clanging melody bursts 

 forth from a score of quivering throats, forming a concert of inharmonious, yet 

 most pleasing sounds. Probably Cook indicated the Bell-bird, then in a 

 comparatively unmolested state, when he wrote, " the ship lay at the distance 

 of somewhat less than a quarter of a mile from the shore, and in the morning 

 we were awakened by the singing of the birds ; the number was incredible, and 

 they seemed to strain their throats in emulation of each other. This wild 

 melody was infinitely srq:>erior to any that we had ever heard of the same kind; 

 it seemed to be like small bells, most exquisitely tuned, and perhaps the 

 distance and the water between, might be of no small advantage to the sound." 

 ISTor does this cheerful bird confine itself to the bixsh, it frequents our gardens 

 and shrubberies, and especially affects the blossoms of the Fuchsia, Tritoma, 

 Acacia, etc. The berries of various Coprosmas, and that of the Konini, it 

 greedily devours ; it may be frequently observed fluttering heavily in pursuit 

 of a moth. It is very easily snared with a noose at the end of a tohe reed ; 

 in confinement it feeds on soaked bread, etc. Whilst the Phormium tenax 

 is in blossom, many Bell-birds may be observed with their head feathers dyed 

 orange-red, from contact with the pollen and honey, whilst extracting a 

 delicious repast from the flax blooms. It has been stated that zealous 

 ornithologists have deemed the bird thus decorated, a new species. 



Placed at no great elevation from the ground, the nest may be found in a 

 variety of positions, but we certainly have noticed it most frequently beneath 

 a sheltering canopy of "Bush-lawyer" (Pubus australis.) It is rather flat, 

 and loosely constructed of sprays, grass, moss, etc. , well lined with feathers. 

 On examining the foundation of a nest, we found green sprays of Manuka 

 amongst the interlaced materials, a fact which disclosed the proof of the power of 

 the bill of this honey-sucker in breaking off such tough twigs. From wall to wall, 

 across the top, the nest measures about 5 inches, diameter of cavity, 2 inches 

 9 lines, depth inside, about 2 inches. We fancy that the lining feathers are 

 selected in such a manner as to afford some evidence of harmony of colour in 

 their arrangement ; as, for instance, we have noted specimens, with the inner 

 lining entirely composed of the red feathers of the Kaka, another adorned with 

 the green feathers of the Parroquet ; near the farm, where many kinds of 

 poultry are kept, we have had instances of lining, white, black, speckled, buff, 

 etc., but uniformity of colour has been displayed. The eggs, four in number, 

 are white with reddish specks, sometimes the ground-colour exhibits a delicate 

 pinkish tinge; they measure in length 11 lines, with a breadth of 8 J lines. 

 We must have peered into scores of nests, in various parts of the country, but 

 we have never yet been fortunate enough to encounter such a prize as one 

 containing "seven eggs, spotted with blue, upon a brown ground," ascribed to 

 this bird by the Be v. B. Taylor, in his work "Te Ika a Maui." The breeding- 

 season extends from the commencement of spring, throughout the summer 



