90 
In former times, when this species was abundant throughout the whole country, certain forest- 
ranges were famed as Korimako preserves, and were highly prized on that account by the natives 
owning them. At the present day, in the investigation of native titles to land, the “ snaring of 
Korimakos ” by their ancestors is an act of ownership frequently pleaded in support of the tribal claim. 
The flight of this bird is undulating, but very rapid, the wings and tail being alternately 
opened to their full extent and sharply closed. It sometimes mounts to a considerable height in 
the air, and I have occasionally observed large parties of them indulging in a playful flight far above 
the tree-tops. 
Its food consists of minute flies and insects, as well as small berries, such as those of the karamu 
(, Coprosma lucida) and other shrubs, and the honey of various kinds of bush-flowers. When feeding 
on the latter, it may be seen hanging by the feet in all positions from the slight flower-bearing twigs, 
while the slender bill, with the pencilled tongue protruded, is thrust into the corolla of each flower 
in quick succession. 
In the gardens of the South Island it is still daily to be seen, moving actively about and collecting 
honey from various flowers. It is specially fond of the common black wattle ; and it is a pretty sight 
to watch the bird clinging to the flower-stems in the manner described and assuming every variety of 
attitude as it sips the nectar from the golden tassels that cover the tree in such thick profusion *. 
It also attacks the full-blown flower of the common foxglove, which now grows wild in some parts 
of the country, piercing or tearing open the corolla with its bill in order to get at the honeyed juice. 
When the korari ( Phormium tenax ) is in full bloom, the horn-shaped flowers are filled with 
delicious nectar, which the natives are accustomed to collect in calabashes, to be used as a drinking- 
beverage for visitors. . The Bell-bird, too, loves to regale itself on this saccharine production ; and 
while the season lasts its forehead is often stained red from the colouring-matter that adheres to the 
feathers. When the bird, with the change of season again, is feasting itself from the smaller cups 
of the pretty native fuchsia (F. excorticatct), the stain on the forehead changes to a very bright purple 
or blue. 
Its ordinary chime consists of the following four notes (as set by Dr. Shortland):— 
No one who has not actually listened to the melody can form any idea of the effect produced by these 
high notes coming from a hundred throats independently, and blending together in the richest 
harmony of song. 
The Bell-bird commences breeding towards the end of September or early in October, and some- 
times even as late as November and December. I have met with a brood of fully-fledged young birds 
as early as October 28 ; while, on the other hand, Mr. Potts informs me that he has observed it 
building its nest at the end of January or beginning of February. It seems probable, therefore, that 
this species rears two broods in the year. Its nest may be looked for in deep wooded gullies and in 
the low brushwood along the outskirts of the forest. It is usually placed m the fork of a low branch, 
and the bird in selecting a site seems generally to prefer those bushes over which the native bramble 
(Rulus australis) has thrown a protecting mantle. It is a common thing to find four or five old 
nests of former years in the immediate vicinity of the occupied one, as if the birds formed an attach- 
ment for a locality once chosen as a breeding-place. The nest is a rather loose structure, composed 
externally of sm all dry twigs, sometimes interlaced with the wiry stems of the bush convolvulus, over 
* Forty years ago literally thousands of these birds annually frequented the groves of wattle arouud the old mission-station 
at Tangiteroria (on the northern Wairoa). The wattles still are there, grown to the size of forest trees, with many generations 
of younger ones; but, alas ! the “ chime of silver hells ” is no longer to he heard : the Korimakos have gone, and the groves 
are silent ! 
