The Honey-eaters : The Bell-bird 
143 
heat, unless some few individuals meet on a tree or shrub that 
offers, it may be, a tempting show of honey-bearing blossoms, 
a note or two is briefly sounded, the numbers rapidly increase, 
after much noisy fluttering of wings a gush of clanging melody 
bursts forth from a score of quivering throats, forming a con¬ 
cert of inharmonious, yet most pleasing sounds. Nor is the 
ear alone gratified, for the actions and postures of the melodists 
are extremely quaint and droll during this performance, which 
seems to be only undertaken by cock birds; it is usually com- 
