Mr. E. L. Layaid on South-African Ornithology. 373 



477. Indicator major. Mrs, Barber writes that this Honej'- 

 bird lays its eggs in the nests of Lamodon nigrithorax (No. 465), 

 M'hich is common about Highlands, near Graham^s Town. My 

 friend, with whom I have been corresponding on the subject, 

 gives battle in defence of her favourites, and denies that they 

 will lead the hunter to a leopard or snake (c/. B. S. Afr. p. 242), 

 and she accounts for persons coming on these animals (and 

 others) by saying that they fall in with them accidentally while 

 following the Honey-guide through the forest. However, she 

 shall plead her own cause: — " Regarding the 'tiger-leading pro- 

 pensities' (as you term them) of the Honey-guide, our Eastern- 

 districts Court is not inclined to abide by the verdict of ' guilty' 

 passed by yours of the Western districts upon the bird in ques- 

 tion; neither is the explanation which I gave you 'an ingenious' 

 one of my own invention, as you seem to believe or imagine. 

 What I wrote to you in a former letter is the opinion of many 

 old bee-hunters in this part of the country, who have no faith in 

 the popular belief [that leading to the leopard is done on 

 purpose]. My nine brothers, who were all brought up in this 

 country, were all of them great hunters (as well as sportsmen) ; 

 and during all the years of their experience in bee-hunting, and 

 especially while they were living at Tharfield, where bees' nests 

 were exceedingly plentiful, where they were constantly in the 

 habit of following these birds, never once did the Honey-guide 

 ever lead them, purposely, to any noxious animal. Many times 

 in following the bird through dense woods have they started 

 various kinds of creatures ; but if they did not neglect the bird 

 for the purpose of hunting, she would continue her flight towards 

 the bees' nest, regardless of the startled animals. One of my 

 brothers once, while following a Honey-guide through a dense 

 forest near the Kowie, passed directly through a drove of wild 

 pigs. They were of course more frightened than he was, and 

 rushed about in every direction ; but my brother, knowing the 

 popular belief, and wishing to test it, took not the slightest 

 notice of the wild pigs, but passed on, keeping his eye on the 

 bird, which went steadily on her way, until she arrived at the 

 nest she intended to show, regardless of the pigs. 



