The Bell-birds of America. 403 



that given by that excellent and observing naturalist Prince 

 Maximilian of ISTeuwied, in his Contributions to the Natural 

 History of Brazil* Prince Maximilian tells us that this remark 

 able bird is one of the most singular features in the fauna of 

 the wooded coast-region of Brazil, and attracts the stranger's 

 notice as well by its brilliant white plumage as by its clear 

 ringing voice. It seems to be very generally distributed 

 through the woods, resorting especially to the thickest and 

 most secluded parts of them. Hence it resulted that the Prince 

 and his party, during their expeditions in the neighbourhood 

 of Eio de Janeiro, became well acquainted with its singular 

 notes some time before they obtained specimens of the producer 

 of them. Prince Maximilian describes these notes as resem- 

 bling the sound of a clear-ringing bell, sometimes repeated at 

 intervals, sometimes following each other in quick succession. 

 In the latter case they are more like the sound produced by 

 a blacksmith when he strikes a piece of steel upon an anvil, 

 whence the bird has obtained its Portuguese name Ferreiro 

 (smithf). The song is heard at all hours of the day, and 

 when, as often happens, several of these birds are in the same 

 neighbourhood, and begin, singing against and answering each 

 other, a most wonderful vocal concert is the result. The Ara- 

 ponga, as this bird is also called in Eastern Brazil, often takes 

 up its station at the highest withered summit of a colossal forest- 

 tree, and pours forth its loud metallic notes out of the reach 

 of gun-shot, at the same time presenting with its lovely white 

 plumage a fine contrast to the clear blue sky. It is, however, 

 easily disturbed by anything unwonted making its appearance. 

 Its food, as ascertained by dissections, appears to be exclusively 

 fruit. Nothing was ascertained by Prince Maximilian respecting 

 its nidification, nor have subsequent observers added to our 

 knowledge on this point. 



Of this extraordinary bird a living specimen was first 

 acquired for the aviaries of the Zoological Society of London 

 in May last. It was an adult male, and was purchased from 

 a well-known London dealer in living animals for the sum of 

 £10. Shortly after this bird had arrived in the Society's 

 gardens it commenced its song, and continued to pour forth 

 its peculiar notes at intervals of more or less frequency for 

 several weeks. These notes have been described by an accurate 

 observer in the following manner : — 



" The first note is a loud, harsh, and somewhat grating 

 noise ; this is followed by six or eight fine, clear, metallic, ring- 

 ing notes, with an interval of about a second between each of 



* Beitrdge zur Naturgeschicte von JBrasilien, 3 vols., Weimar, 1830. 

 f Professor Burmeister (Syst. Ueb. d- Thiere Brasiliens, ii., p. 426) says the 

 Portuguese name is Ferrador, not Ferreiro, but the meaning is the same. 



