150 Bird-Song : and New Zealand Song Birds 
“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 notes were 
recorded by Shortland near Waikouaiti, in Otago, on the 1st 
or 2nd of November, 1843. “In the morning,” he writes (SS, 
p. 121) “I woke early; and, as the dawn first peeped forth, was 
deafened by the sound of the bell-birds. The woods which were 
close by seemed to be thronged with them. Never before had I 
heard so loud a chorus. I called to mind Captain Cook’s descrip¬ 
tion of the impression made on him by the singing of these birds, 
when at anchor near the shore in Queen Charlotte Sound. 
He is wrong, however, in saying that they sing at night, like 
the nightingale. They commence at dawn of day their chime 
of four notes which, repeated independently by a thousand 
throats, create the strangest melody. But they cease, as by one 
consent, the moment the sun’s first rays are visible; and there 
is a general silence. Again, at even, they commence, just as 
the sun’s last ray fades, and sing on till dark.” 
Further details of the chorus-song are given by Reischek 
(Tr., Vol. 19, p. 187) : “I had a concert near my nikau whare, 
from ten to twenty birds of both sexes sitting on the trees 
and singing in chorus together. The morning and evening 
song differs from that during the day, the morning and evening 
notes consisting of three distinct sounds resembling the chimes 
of bells, from which I suppose the bird derived its name. The 
song during the day is more of a warbling sound. One gives 
the signal to begin, with a snap of the bill, and all the birds 
join in the chime, keeping perfect time together until the 
leader, with another snap, gives the signal for a rest. After 
a few minutes rest, the chiming song is repeated. ’ ’ 
Again, “In the early dawn,” writes Taylor (TI, p. 402), 
“when the vocal songsters of the grove assemble by mutual 
consent on some tree, to sing their morning hymn, the note of 
the korimako is heard above all the rest, and gives the greatest 
harmony to the whole; indeed, nothing can exceed the sweet¬ 
ness of this concert, which is only heard for a short time, and 
