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its nest in the upright bole of a dead tree, quite beyond the reach of rats, and appears to be more 
abundant now than ever ; also the Bhipidura , Zosterops, Gerygone, and other small birds, whose 
delicate nests are secured to slender twigs or suspended among vines and creepers. And the Ground- 
Lark, again, which nests in open grass or fern land, where the Harrier keeps the rat well under 
control, has of late years sensibly increased, being now very common. As a matter of fact, I have 
known a case in which half a dozen nests of the Tui, within a radius of a hundred yards, were robbed 
by rats of both eggs and young *. 
But to resume our history of the “ Bell-bird ” — so-called from the fanciful resemblance of 
one of its notes to the distant tolling of a bell. Its ordinary song is not unlike that of the Tui or 
Parson-bird, but is more mellifluous. Its notes though simple are varied and sweetly chimed ; and 
as the bird is of social habits, the morning anthem, in which scores of these sylvan choristers perform 
together, is a concert of eccentric parts, producing a wild but pleasing melody. When singing it 
arches its back and puff's out the feathers of the body. I have occasionally heard a solitary Bell-bird 
pouring forth its liquid notes after the darkness of advancing night had silenced all the other 
denizens of the grove. It ought to be mentioned, moreover, that both sexes sing. When alarmed 
or excited they utter a strain of notes which I can only compare to the sound produced by a police- 
man’s rattle quickly revolved. This cry, or the bird-catcher’s imitation of it, never fails to attract 
to the spot all the Bell-birds within hearing. The Maoris are accustomed to snare them by means 
of a take baited with the crimson flowers of the climbing Metrosideros. The same device is adopted 
for catching the Tui. 
This snare, of which a figure is here given, is formed of a carefully selected piece of kareao 
vine, having the necessary curve upwards. The lower part of this is 
fastened to the thick end of a bush-rod, eight or ten feet in length, 
through a small hole in which a looped flax line is passed, a crook, to 
serve as a support, being placed on the opposite side. At the upper 
extremity of the artificial perch thus produced a circular flower-holder, 
made of split vine, is fixed, and a string connects it with the stem 
of the tuke, whilst the attachment of the lower end to the support is 
concealed by a covering of soft moss, carefully tied round with a strip of 
green flax, every precaution being taken to give it a natural appearance. 
Having baited and set his snare, the bird-catcher hitches it by the crook 
to a branch in some favourable position and prepares for action. Con- 
cealing himself in a shelter of fronds, torn from a tree-fern and hastily 
stuck into the ground with the tops overlapping, he imitates the alarm- 
cry of the bird by means of a nikau leaf placed between his lips. The 
call is soon responded to, and birds from far and near hurry to the 
fatal spot. The artful Maori then stops calling, and the birds, as soon 
as their excitement has subsided, begin to look about them and are 
attracted by the flowers. The instant one touches the treacherous perch, a pull on the string, 
bringing the loop home, secures it firmly by the leg. The tuke is then gently unhitched and 
lowered from the branch, cleared of its victim, and quickly reset. 
* Mr. W. T. L. Travers, in an interesting article on the subject, says : — “ The rat and the bee may each have played a part 
in bringing about its disappearance from the North Island, as both of these swarm all through the forest there, whilst in the 
South Island the rat has been nearly extirpated from the great Fa (jus forests by the Woodhen ( Ocydromus ), and the bee is limited 
in its range to the cultivated districts. But the cause of the disappearance of this bird is mere matter of speculation, and I have 
only cited the case in order to show how little we really know of the circumstances which may govern or limit the distribution 
of any particular species.” (Trans. N.-Z. Inst. 1882, vol. xv. p. 182.) 
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