NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Manner of discovering the lionet-combs. 



wild bees; for it well knows that, when a nest is 

 plundered, some must-fall to the ground, which 

 consequently comes to its share; indeed a part 

 is generally left on purpose hy the plunderers as 

 a reward for its services. 



We are informed by Dr. Sparrman, that a nest 

 which was shown to him as belonging to this 

 bird was composed of slender filaments of bark 

 woven together in the form of a bottle ; the 

 neck and opening hung downwards, and a string 

 in an arched shape was suspended across the 

 opening, fastened by the two ends, perhaps for 

 the birds to perch on. 



The surprising manner in which this bird di- 

 rects the hunters and ratel to the honey-combs, 

 (according to many respectable authorities,) is 

 truly as remarkable as it is well adapted to the 

 purpose, and is thus recorded by Dr. Sparrman. 



" The morning and evening are its principal 

 meal-times; at least, it is then that it shows the 

 greatest inclination to come forth, and with a 

 grating cry of ' cherr, cherr, cherr,' to excite the 

 attention of the ratel, as well as of the Hottentots 

 and colonists, of whose country it is a native. 

 Somebody then generally repairs to the place 

 whence the sound proceeds; when the bird, con- 

 tinually repeating its cry of ( cherr, cherr, cherr,' 

 flies on slowly and by degrees towards the quar- 

 ter where the swarm of bees have taken up their 

 abode. The persons thus invited accordingly 



