Letters, Extracts, and Notes. 765 



of the unknown highlands of New Guinea for as long a time 

 as possible. 



Habits of the Honey-Guides. — In Col. Patterson's recently 

 published volume ' In the Grip of the Nyika ' we read (p. 2:23) 

 as follows : — 



"As we were marching quietly along soon after leaving 

 Kurseine, my guide, Papai, suddenly showed signs of great 

 excitement, and drew our attention to a tiny bird, fluttering 

 and twittering in front of us in a very curious fashion. On 

 asking him through Abudi what its antics meant, he replied 

 ' He is telling us where to get honey.' I was naturally very 

 much interested, and when Papai asked me if I would halt 

 the safari for a little, so that he might go and rob the nest, 

 1 willingly consented and myself accompanied him, who now 

 relinquished to the tiny bird his rdle of guide. The little 

 thing, which was barely the size of a Wren, twittered and 

 chirruped and fluttered along from one bush to another, 

 looking round pertly all the time to see if we were following. 

 In this way it led us on for about a quarter of a mile, until 

 at last it came to a dead stop, and took up its position on a 

 tree, where it remained motionless. 



" Papai then told us that we were now close to the honey, 

 and must be on the look-out for the bees coming and going. 

 In a few seconds we discovered them entering a tiny hole in 

 a tree not a dozen yards from where our cunning little guide 

 had stopped. 



"We very soon had an opening made sufficiently large for 

 Papai to thrust his hand into the hollow, and in this way he 

 removed several honeycombs full of the most delicious 

 golden honey. He took not the slightest notice of the bees, 

 though they flew all round him, and some of them stung 

 him. We were much pleased with our spoil, and left a 

 fair share of it behind as a reward for the trusty little bird 

 who had led us along so skilfully." 



3e2 



