  The working principle and performance of the BELLE particle identification
device (PID), based on a hybrid system consisting of an array of high precision
scintillator Time of Flight and silica Aerogel Counters, is discussed. The
performances achieved in the beam tests are satisfactory and Monte Carlo tests
of meeting physics objectives of BELLE are promising. Prior to the real
experiment which is expected to commence in spring 1999, the BELLE PID is
taking cosmic ray data for calibration and fine tuning.
