<hw>Bell-bird</hw>, <i>n</i>. name given to several birds, from their note, like the tinkling of a bell. In Australia, a Honey-eater, <i>Myzantha melanophrys</i>, Gould ('Birds of Australia,' vol. iv. pl. 80), the `Australian Bell-bird' (the same bird as <i>Myzantha flavirostris</i>, V. and H.), chiefly found in New South Wales; also <i>Oreoica gutturalis</i>, Gould (vol. ii. pl. 81), the `Bell-bird' of Western Australia; and <i>Oreoica cristata</i>, Lewin. In New Zealand, <i>Anthornis melanura</i>, Sparrm., chief Maori names, <i>Korimako</i> (q.v.) in North, and <i>Makomako</i> in South. Buller gives ten Maori names. The settlers call it <i>Moko</i> (q.v.). There is also a Bell-bird in Brazil.
1774. J. Hawkesworth, `Voyages,' vol. ii. p. 390 [Journal of Jan. 17, 1770):
"In the morning we were awakened by the singing of the birds; the number was incredible, and they seemed to strain their throats in emulation of each other. This wild melody was infinitely superior to any that we had ever heard of the same kind; it seemed to be like small bells most exquisitely tuned, and perhaps the distance, and the water between, might be no small advantage to the sound. Upon enquiry we were informed that the birds here always began to sing about two hours after midnight, and continuing their music till sunrise were, like our nightingales, silent the rest of the day."
[This celebrated descriptive passage by Dr. Hawkesworth is based upon the following original from `Banks's Journal,' which now, after an interval of 122 years, has just been published in London, edited by Sir J. D. Hooker.]
1770. J. Banks, `Journal,' Jan. 17 (edition 1896):
"I was awakened by the singing of the birds ashore, from whence we are distant not a quarter of a mile. Their numbers were certainly very great. They seemed to strain their throats with emulation, and made, perhaps, the most melodious wild music I have ever heard, almost imitating small bells, but with the most tunable silver sound imaginable, to which, maybe, the distance was no small addition. On inquiring of our people, I was told that they had observed them ever since we had been here, and that they began to sing about one or two in the morning, and continue till sunrise, after which they are silent all day, like our nightingales."
1802. G. Barrington, `History of New South Wales,' c. viii. p. 84:
"The cry of the bell-bird seems to be unknown here."
1827. Vigors and Horsfield, `Transactions of Linnaean Society,' vol. xv. p. 319:
"Mr. Caley thus observes on this bird: `Dell-bird or Bell-bird. So called by the colonists. It is an inhabitant of bushes, where its disagreeable noise (disagreeable at least to me) [but not to the poets] may be continually heard; but nowhere more so than on going up the harbour to Paramatta, when a little above the Flats.'"