124 SOME BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA 



opinion of many old bee-hunters in this part of the 

 country, who have no faith in the popular belief that 

 leading to the leopard is done on purpose. My nine 

 brothers, who were all brought up in this country, were 

 all of them great hunters as well as sportsmen ; and 

 during all the years of their experience while they were 

 living at Tharfteld, where bees' nests were exceedingly 

 plentiful, and where they were constantly in the habit 

 of following these birds, never once did the Honey- 

 guide ever lead them purposely to any noxious animal. 

 Many times in following the bird through dense woods 

 have they started various kinds of creatures ; but if they 

 did not neglect the bird for the purpose of hunting she 

 would continue her flight towards the bees' nest, regard- 

 less of the startled animals. One of my brothers once, 

 while following a Honey-guide through a dense forest 

 near the Kowie, passed directly through a drove of wild 

 pigs. They were of course more frightened than he 

 was, and rushed about in every direction ; but my 

 brother, knowing the popular belief, and wishing to test 

 it, took not the slightest notice of the wild pigs, but 

 passed on, keeping his eye on the bird, who went 

 steadily on her way, until she arrived at the nest she 



intended to show, regardless of the pigs 



And, again, when the bird has arrived at the nest she 

 intends to show, there is an alteration in the notes of 

 her voice. An old bee-hunter knows this in an instant, 

 and knows when he ought to commence searching 

 for the nest. Now this alteration never takes place 

 when animals of various kinds are startled in passing 

 through the forest while following the bird. Hence I 

 conclude that she does not intend to show where these 



