1894
March 26
(No 5)
Trinidad, B.W.I.
Caparo
extent [diagram] but although the lower mandible
is worked with some apparent effort and thrown
well down the upper mandible and the rest of the head
are held perfectly motionless.
  After calling and singing a few times without
changing his position the bird would turn squarely
on his perch and face in the [delete] directly [/delete] opposite
[delete] position [/delete] direction for an equal period, then turn
back again. During the intervals of silence, which
often lasted ten or fifteen minutes, [delete] the bird [/delete] he
devoted his attentions to his plumage which he
preened and arranged with great care.
[margin] Characteristic
attitudes
flight, etc of
the Bell Bird [/margin]

  The flight of the Bell Bird is swift, easy, slightly
undulating, the wings being beaten rapidly a few times and
then closed during the downward sweep. It is
much like the flight of Habia ludoviciana which,
indeed, the Bell Bird also resembles in form and
bearing although it is of course larger and heavier.
It is an alert but not a very active bird sitting
for a long time in one place but moving the
head about quickly and occasionally twitching the
wings. I saw no tail motion excepting [delete] when the
bird was [/delete] during the act of calling. The fleshy throat appendages were
not visable[sic] at any time, either when the bird was
calling or when it was sitting still or preening its
feathers This is difficult to understand for when
the head of a dead specimen is held out horizontally
these appendages hang straight downward. They are indeed
as soft and limp as is many bits of old shoe string
yet the bird must be able in some way to hold them