ACKNOWLEDGMENTS V 



that it constitutes one of the most valuable additions to previous 

 knowledge of these birds. So cooperatively did we w^ork that it is 

 almost impossible to say w^hich data were due to which observer, and 

 since mj'- departiu-e these two meticulous natm'alists have continued 

 to study special phases of the biology of the honey-guides and have 

 most generously sent me their data for inclusion in this report. In the 

 pertinent parts of the text I have attempted to give them credit for 

 their contributions, but no words can adequately express the extent 

 to which I, and all readers of this report, are indebted to them. 



In addition to his enthusiastic cooperation in the field, Ranger 

 kindly allowed me the use of a number of his photographs taken after 

 my field work was over, while Skead went to great efforts to make con- 

 tact for me, by con-espondence, a large number of observers in South 

 Africa who might have had some notes of interest. While no one 

 can be more acutely aware than I am of the gaps still present in our 

 knowledge of the honey-guides, I feel confident that, given the time 

 and opportunity, Ranger and Skead will continue to study these 

 birds and will fill, or at least greatly reduce, these lacunae. Their 

 work, done at Umtaleni, has been expedited by the cooperation of the 

 owners of that land, Edgar and Neville Ranger, 



Second in scope only to the contributions of Ranger and Skead have 

 been those of Neuby-Varty, Plowes, Potter, van Someren, J. Vincent, 

 and Williams. Their names appear in the text in connection with 

 specific items of interest, but their assistance has permeated a larger 

 part of the general background of this report than these actual men- 

 tions would indicate. 



I met with similar kind cooperation in my work in the museums. 

 In Paris, J. Berlioz put at my disposal the Gaboon material collected 

 by Rougeot; in London, E. Banks and H. B. Usher helped with facili- 

 ties for studying the great collections of honey-guides in the British 

 Museum, and Macdouald patiently answered queries about certain 

 specimens. The Congo Museum at Tervuren has loaned important 

 anatomical material through the kind efforts of its former director. Dr. 

 H. Schouteden, In Milan, on an earher visit in 1936, Moltoni showed 

 me the honey-guides in the collections there. Similar courtesies were 

 given me in the museums of Copenhagen, Genoa, L?iden, Stockholm, 

 Turin, and Vienna. Dr. Stresemann kindly assisted with information 

 on specimens in Berlin, and also brought to my attention an early ac- 

 count of the guiding habit of the greater honey-guide. The honey- 

 guides in the museums of South Africa were made available for study; 

 and for this I am indebted to Dr. Barnard of the South African Mu- 

 seum at Cape Town, Dr. Hewitt of the Albany Museum, Grahams- 

 town, E, C. Chubb formerly of the Durban Museum, P, A. Clancey 

 formerly of the Natal Museum, Pietermaritzburg, Miss Courtenay- 



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