THE HONEY-BIRD. 49 



adopt the route through De Bruin's Poort, which had 

 been recommended to me by the drivers of the Somer- 

 set orange-wagons. By this route I should avoid Som- 

 erset, and pass through the village of Cradock. My 

 plans at this time were, in the first instance, to proceed 

 direct to the Thebus Flats, where black wildebeest and 

 springbok were reported to abound ; and thence to 

 march upon Colesberg, a village on the frontiers, where 

 I expected to meet my cousin. Colonel Campbell, of the 

 91st, by whose advice, in a great measure, I intended 

 to be guided in my future movements. 



We now reloaded my wagon, made all fast, and hav- 

 ing put every thing in order, Leonard and I journeyed 

 together to Fichett's farm, where I once more took up 

 my quarters for the night. While actively busied with 

 my oxen, I saw to-day, for the first time, the honey- 

 bird. This extraordinary little bird, which is about the 

 size of a chaffinch, and of a light gray color, will inva- 

 riably lead a person following it to a wild-bees' nest. 

 Chattering and twittering in a state of great excite- 

 ment, it perches on a branch beside the traveler, en- 

 deavoring by various wiles to attract his attention; and 

 having succeeded in doing so, it flies lightly forward in 

 a wavy course in the direction of the bees' nest, alight- 

 ing every now and then, and looking back to ascertain 

 if the traveler is following it, all the time keeping up 

 an incessant twitter. When at length it arrives at the 

 hollow tree or deserted white-ants' hill which contains 

 the honey, it for a moment hovers over the nest, point- 

 ing to it with its bill, and then takes up its position on 

 a neighboring branch, anxiously awaiting its share of 

 the spoil. When the honey is taken, which is accom- 

 plished by first stupefying the bees by burning grass at 

 the entrance of their domicile, the honey-bird will often 



Vol. L— C 



