THE CASTLE PLEDGE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 28 July 1928, Page 18

THE CASTLE PLEDGE.

I promise to smile every time I can, and to chase all the frowns* into the dark cave, where the Smile Giant will kill them with his Magic Sword Happiness.

Mv Dear Smiles, — Liast week one of -the. Smiles who lives at \\ and another this week from Mokoia mentioned in their letters that thev had. been favoured with visits,from bell birds or, as the Maoris call them, the- makomako. They were/ very fortunate indeed- to be able to see them so closely, as the bell bird is very shy. They are no doubt the most melodious songsters that New Zealand possesses. In the “Star” some time ago several residents of South Taranaki wrote saying they had heard the bell bird singinn- It comes in the winter time to suck the nectar trom the lucerne flowers and the blue gum flowers. Later on it sips the honey from the flowers of the flax bushes. It is very pleasing- to note that this fine songster is becoming more plentiful, as it was feared that it was like y o become rare owing to the disappearance of so much busn, and also to the fact that cats and other enemies were keeping it from multiplying. When the kowhai blooms m September it visits the yellow flowers for honey. The song of the bell bird is similar to that ot the tin, and these birds are often found together in the bush. One of the greatest naturalists that ever came to New Zealand, Sir Joseph Banks, who visited the Dominion with Captain Cook was very much struck with the bell bird s song onhearing it for the first time, and he described it as being “like small bells exquisitely tuned. . The bell bird begins to build its nest in September. Both the male and the female work together in constructing it of small branches and moss. Inside is to be found a lining of feathers, generally selected from gay plumaged birds. °lt builds the nest high up in thick branches as a rule, and four or five eggs are laid, of a pinkish white colour with irregular markings of reddish brown near the larger end. The male bird also assists in the hatching and helps to feed the young ones and looks after them until they arfe able to fend for themselves. I was very pleased that our Smiles wrote about their observations of the bell bird. The fact that it comes iioa\ every year to get honey from the lucerne flowers should be an inducement for people to plenty of. them, for then we might attract more of these little creatures to our homes. With best of love to you all. Yours Affectionately, SMILE QUEEN.