1848. J. Gould, `Birds of Australia,' vol. ii. pl. 81:
"<i>Oreoica gutturalis</i>, Gould. Crested Oreoica. <i>Bell-bird</i>, Colonists of Swan River [Western Australia]. . . I find the following remarks in my note-book— `Note, a very peculiar piping whistle, sounding like <i>weet-weet-weet-weet-oo</i>, the last syllable fully drawn out and very melodious. . . . In Western Australia, where the real Bell-bird is never found, this species has had that appellation given to it,—a term which must appear ill-applied to those who have heard the note of the true Bell-bird of the brushes of New South Wales, whose tinkling sound so nearly resembles that of a distant sheep-bell as occasionally to deceive the ears of a practised shepherd."
1866. Lady Barker, `Station Life in New Zealand,' p. 93:
"Every now and then we stood, by common consent, silent and almost breathless, to listen to the bell-bird, a dingy little fellow, nearly as large as a thrush with the plumage of a chaffinch, but with such a note! How can I make you hear its wild, sweet, plaintive tone, as a little girl of the party said `just as if it had a bell in its throat;' but indeed it would require a whole peal of silver bells to ring such an exquisite chime."
1868. F. Napier Broome, `Canterbury Rhymes,' second edition, p. 108:
"Where the bell-bird sets solitudes ringing,
Many times I have heard and thrown down
My lyre in despair of all singing."
1881. A. C. Grant, `Bush Life in Queensland,' vol. i. p. 21:
"Listen to the bell-bird. Ping, ping, sounds through the vast hushed temple of nature."
1883. G. W. Rusden, `History of Australia,' vol. i. p. 81:
"The bell-bird, with metallic but mellow pipe, warns the wanderer that he is near water in some sequestered nook."