162 BIRD-PARASITES 



dusky, giving a scaly appearance to this region ; rest of 

 under-parts yellowish- white. Length 7 inches. 



It ranges from the South-eastern portion of Cape 

 Colony to Zululand, and has been recently recorded 

 from the Northern Transvaal by L. E. Taylor. 



We give an illustration of an unfledged young bird of 

 this species, showing the remarkable development of the 

 beak. This specimen was taken from the nest-hole in 

 a willow-tree, belonging to a pair of Diamond Sparrows 

 (Petronia petronella). The Honey-guide had previously 

 been seen in the tree, and we found no young sparrows, 

 these having evidently been ejected by the young Honey- 

 guide. 



On one occasion when encamped near the Zwartkops 

 River in the neighbourhood of Uitenhage, one of these 

 birds led us on six different occasions to Bees' nests. 

 The bird would come and perch on some tree close to 

 the camp and commence calling " cha, cha, cha " to 

 attract our attention. We followed it as it flitted before 

 us from tree to tree, and eventually located the nest, 

 while the little guide flew round us, keeping in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the place, but not coming up to the spot. 



The Lesser Honey-guide (Indicator minor) is of an 

 olive tinge above, greyer on the head and neck ; ear- 

 coverts whitish bordered below by a dark stripe ; under- 

 surface greenish -grey, fading into whitish on the abdomen 

 and under tail-coverts. Length 6i inches. It is the com- 

 monest and most widely distributed species, being found 

 in all the wooded tracts. Like the other members of 

 the family it goes about singly or in pairs, and feeds on 

 bees, wax, honey and various insects. The Black-collared 

 Barbet is the usual host of this little Honey-guide, and 

 we append a photograph of one of these guides sitting 



