cucuLiD^. 337 



dainty fare^ being sometimes found in the liives 

 stung to deatli. In such a case, the bees cover the 

 body ^dth a vault of wax, that they may not be in- 

 commoded by its presence. Their flight is heavy _, 

 and continued only for a short distance at a time ; 

 but they run upon the trunks and branches of trees 

 with great facilit}^, in the manner of the Wood- 

 peckers. From the observations of M. Verreux, it 

 would appear that they have the parasitic habits of 

 the common Cuckoo, introducing their eggs into the 

 nests of Woodpeckers, and sometimes into those of 

 Orioles. The most celebrated species, — 



The Wliite-beaked Honey-guide (Indicator alhiros- 

 tris), is so called because it is said to serve as a guide 

 to the inhabitants of the districts it frequents in their 

 search for honey. We are told that this bird, finding it 

 rather a matter of difficulty to obtain the honey, of which 

 it is extremely fond, has theremarkableinstinct of calling 

 Man to its assistance, and indicating the whereabouts of 

 the nests of the bees by constantly repeating a sharp and 

 peculiar cry, which, according to sonie travellers, may be 

 compared to the words ivicki, wicki, which m the lan- 

 guage of the Hottentots means honey. In the deserts of 

 Africa this cry may be heard in the morning and evening, 

 and is eagerly watched for by the natives, who imme- 

 diately reply to it in a graver tone, and hasten in the 

 direction indicated. As soon as the bird perceives them 

 commg, it places itself upon the tree in which a hive is 

 concealed, and should the honey-seekers not advance 

 quickly enough, flies to them, and by repeatedly going 

 backwards and forwards, shows them in an unmistake- 

 able manner the position of the coveted treasure. Whilst 

 the human marauders are rifling the contents of the hive, 

 the Indicator remains perched in the vicinity, patiently 

 waiting for the share of spoil which the Hottentots never 

 fjiil to leave for its gratification. This strange instinct of 

 the Honey -guide, we are told, is of essential service to 

 the poor Africans, and they regard with no good \vill any 

 person who kills one of these birds. 



The type of this sub-family is — 



The Spotted Indicator {Indicator maculatus) . 



