352 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 



The Bell-bird. 



Oreoica cristaia. 



Australia generally. 



Eeddish-brown above; head light-grey with white forehead and lores; 

 the feathers of the crown of the head forming a deep brownish-black 

 erectile crest; chin and upper throat white enclosed by black stripes; lower 

 throat, neck and upper breast brownish-black; lower breast and abdomen 

 white. Female everywhere lighter coloured. Total length 8.4 inches, 

 culmen .8, wing 4.1, tail 3.5, tarsus 1.1. Feeds on insects. 



The Bell Bird is commonly distributed over Australia, 

 especially the drier and inland portions. It is a good ventrilo- 

 quist, and utters its clear bell-like note from the top 

 of the Eucalyptus trees, where it usually seeks its insect prey. 

 The nest is a_ deep open structure, composed of strips of bark 

 and leaves, and lined with fine grass. It is usually placed not 

 far from the ground on the top of a stump surrounded by 

 suckers, or in the fork of a grass tree or other shrub. The eggs 

 are from three to four, bluish-white in colour, sparingly but 

 boldly marked with dark sepia blotches. They measure 1.06 x 

 .81 inch. 



Not to be confused with the Bell Minah Manorhina 

 melanophrys, which is found in gullies near the coast, occurring 

 in large numbers, which make the welkin ring with their single 

 bell notes, bird answering bird, filling the gully with music. 



Genus Pachycephala. Thickheads. 



Sexes generally differing in colouring, the principal colours 

 in the male plumage earthern-brown, yellow, olive-green and 

 black. Indian and Australian regions. Not in New Zealand. 

 Insectivorous. 



These birds are often known locally as the "Little Thrush." 

 The notes are very beautiful, not so bold as those of Collyrio- 

 cichla but numerous and well sustained. The nests are open 

 and cup-shaped, formed by thin twigs, fibrous roots or casuarina 

 shoots, and are usually placed in a fork of a tree six to twelve 

 feet from the ground. The eggs are of some shade of olive- 

 brown or yellowish with brown spots, often forming a zone on 

 the larger end, a little under an inch long and two-thirds of an 

 inch wide. 



