170 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
Mr. Atmore procured it at Blanco, and writes thus: “ May 26, 
1864. I have had another good opportunity of watching the habits 
of I. minor. I used to wonder where they got all the bees-wax that 
is usually in their gizzards, and the other day I found out. ‘There 
was a male at a bee-hive as busy as possible catching bees. After 
watching him for some time, Tom shot him, and his gizzard was 
full of bees’ legs, with the wax on them. He is held in no repute 
here as an Indicator ; but I. major is, and he is scarce.” Mr. Atmore 
has mistaken the pollen of the bee for wax. The bird’s habit of 
capturing bees like a fly-catcher is interesting ; but his most singular 
statement follows. We had asked him for information upon certain 
points, and he writes: “I can’t answer your queries yet, but I can 
tell you that I. minor kills and eats small birds as savagely as 
Lanius collaris! The very first I shot was in the act of eating a 
sparrow that I saw him kill in flight: I suspect the others of similar 
propensities.” In another letter he writes: “Eggs white, in nests 
of Dendropicus menstruus and Pogonorhynchus leucomelas.’”” 
Mrs. Barber says that with them it lays in the nests of Barbatula 
pusilla. 
Mr. T. C. Atmore has sent it from Eland’s Post, and Captain 
Shelley and Mr. Ayres have both procured it in Natal. Dr. Kirk 
obtained it in the Zambesi district, and the late Mr. Andersson 
writes: “I have met with it sparingly in Damara Land throughout 
the year; and I also observed it in Great Namaqua Land.” Dr. 
Kirk gives the following note on the species as observed by him in 
the Zambesi. ‘The Honey-Guide is found in forests, and often far 
from water, even during the dry season. On observing a man, it 
comes fluttering from branch to branch in the neighbouring trees 
calling attention. If this be responded to, as the natives do by 
whistling and starting to their feet, the bird will go in a certain 
direction and remain at a little distance, hopping from one tree to 
another. On being followed, it goes further; and so it will guide 
the way to a nest of bees. When this is reached, it flies about, but 
no longer guides; and then some knowledge is needed to discover 
the nest, even when pointed out to within a few trees. I have known 
this bird, if the man after taking up the direction for a little then 
turns away, come back and offer to point out another nest in a 
different part. But if it do not know of two nests, it will remain 
behind. The difficulty is, that it will point to tame bees in a bark 
