126 



THE BEE OUCKOO, OR MOUOC. 



panions between cacli flight, and calling to them again to come on ; but 

 it flies to shorter distances, and repeats its cry more frequently and with 

 greater earnestness, in ])roportion as they approach nearer to the nest. 

 AVhen the bird has sometimes, inconsequence of its great impatience, 

 got too far ahead of its followers, but particularly when, on account of 

 the unevenness of the ground, they have not been able to keep pace 

 with it, it has flown back to meet them, and with redoubled cries has 

 denoted still greater impatience, upbraiding them, as it were, for being 

 FO tardy. When it comes to the Bee's nest, whether built in the cleft 

 of a rock, in a hollow tree, or in some cavity of the earth, it hovers over 

 t lie spot for a few seconds ; after which it sits in silence, and for the 

 most part concealed, in some neighboring tree or bush, in expectation 

 of what may happen, and with a view of receiving its share of the 

 bootv. It is probable that this bird always hovers, more or less, in the 

 manner just mentioned, over the Bees' nest, before it hides itself; 

 though the peo])le do not always pay attention to this circumstance: at 

 at all events, however, one may be assured that the Bees' nest is very 

 near when, after the bird has guided its followers to some distance, it is 

 on a sudden silent. 



