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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 ganner 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 Sittings 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 otf 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 
with 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 Yan 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 food consists of the sweet nectar of flowers, which it procures after the manner of Honey- 
eaters in general, by plunging its long 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 melanophrys. 
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 Gibulla by the 
blacks of the Murrumbidgee 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.” 
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 
