>66 CUCKOOS. 



bees cover the body with a vault of wax, that they may not be 

 incommoded by its presence. Their flight is heavy, and con- 

 tinued only for a short distance at a time ; but they run upon the 

 trunks and branches of trees with great faciUty, in the manner of 

 the woodpeckers. From the observations of M. Verreaux, it would 

 appear that they have the parasitic habits of the common cuckoo, 

 introducing their eggs into the nests of woodpeckers, and some- 

 times into those of orioles. The most celebrated species — 



The White-beaked Honey-guide {Indicator albirostris), is so called 

 because it is said to serve as a guide to the inhabitants of the districts it fre- 

 quents 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 

 the remarkable instinct 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 some travellers, may be compared to the 

 words wicki, wicki, which in the language 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 immediately reply to it in a graver tone, 

 and hasten in the direction indicated. As soon as the bird perceives them 

 coming, 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 unmistakeable 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 fail to leave for its 

 gratification. This strange instinct of the honey-guide, we are told, is of essen- 

 tial service to the poor Africans, and they regard with no good will any person 

 who kills one of these birds. 



The type of this sub-family is — 

 The Spotted Indicator [Indicator viaculatus). 



Sub-Family II. 

 THE RAIN CUCKOOS. SAUROTHERIN/E.* 



Gf.xerai, Characteristics. — Bill long, with the culmen nearly straight towards the 

 tip, which is suddenly curved and hooked ; the sides much compressed, and the 

 gonys long and slightly ascending; the nostrils lateral and partly exposed ; the wings 

 moderate and rounded ; the tail lengthened and graduated ; the tarsi more or less 

 long, and covered in front with transverse scales ; the toes more or less unequal ; 

 the claws moderate, curved, and acute. 



The Rain Cuckoos are found in the islands of the West Indies 

 and in South America. They frequent woods and hedges through- 



* <ravpu)Ti)p, sauroter, a spike: so called on account of its long tail. 



