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Sydney Porter—Notes on Neic Zealand Birds



Bellbird (Anthornis melanura)


This is another songster which is rather over-rated. Its notes are

very much like those of the Tui though it lacks the harsh coughing

notes that the latter bird puts into its song. But the resemblance

to bells is very remote unless they may be likened to the clang of a

cow bell. But possibly I am no criterion for my ear is more attuned

to the softer and more continuous song of the European birds.


This bird, like its congenor is far from common over most part of

the main land, but in the remote forested areas it is as plentiful as the

Tui, but is not nearly as conspicuous as that bird, keeping more to the

interior of the forest.


In the manuka scrub around our camp on the Little Barrier Island

these birds swarmed. All day long from the first indication of the dawn

until well into the dark we heard the loud and melodious calls of these

honey-eaters as they searched for insects or sucked the honey from the

nectar-bearing flowers. There was a family of young ones in the

bushes which overhung our camp and all day long we heard the sharp

metallic note of the young ones as they called for food.


We tamed this family by fastening soaked figs and sardine tins

of diluted condensed milk on the nearby branches. First the young

ones came and then the female. Eventually they became so tame that

we could pick them up or they would hop on to our hands if we held

them near the food, I cherished a great affection for the little hen.

She was the very essence of motherhood, and her one great concern

was the care of her babies. She rather mistrusted us at first and I am

sure it was a great relief to her to find that we meant no harm to her

charges. Her whole attitude was of the utmost anxiety that the young

ones got enough food. She never for a second rested. It was ludicrous

to see the youngsters feeding on the figs until the mother came when

they clamoured for food. She fed them upon what she had brought

and then started to feed them on the fig. While she was there they

never helped themselves.


I once witnessed a very interesting little incident. The little mother

brought a large cicada and started to show one of the young ones

how to break it up. She hammered it about on the branch for a time,

then handed it to the youngster, who in a clumsy way tried to do the



