1746 



THE PIC ART AN BIRDS 



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 by the bird to within a few trees. I have known a 

 honey guide, if a man, after taking the direction for a little, then turns away, to 

 come back and offer to point out another nest in a different part. But if it does not 

 know of two nests, it will remain behind. The difficulty is that it will point to tame 

 bees in a bark hive as readily as to those in the forests. This is natural, as the bee 

 is the same; the bark hive, Musinga, as it is named, being simply fastened up to a 

 tree, and left for the bees to come to. The object the bird has in view is clearly the 



WHITE-EARED HONEY GUIDE. 

 (One-half natural size.) 



young bees. It will guide to nests having no honey, and seems equally delighted if 

 the comb containing the grubs be torn out, when it is seen pecking at it." The 

 little honey guide (/. minor} is only six inches in length. It is said to be of no 

 repute as a honey guide, but it catches bees like a flycatcher. The white-eared 

 honey guide (/. sparmanni} , is one of the larger members of the genus, about eight 

 inches in length, of an ashy-brown color above, whitish below, with a brownish 

 shade on the throat. The three outer tail feathers have their bases white, and there 

 is also some white on the lower back and tipper tail coverts; on the shoulder is a 

 yellow band, formed by some of the lesser wing coverts. This species is found over 



