THE BEE CUCKOO. 179 



Dr. Sparnnan's account. 



follow; taking great care at the same time not 

 to frighten their guide by any unusual noise, but 

 rather to answer it now and then with a soft and 

 very gentle whistle, by way of letting the bird 

 know that its call is attended to. When the 

 bees'-nest is at some distance^ the bird often 

 makes long stages or flights, waiting for its sport- 

 ing companions between each flight, and calling 

 to them again to come on; but it flies to shorter 

 distances, and repeats its cry more frequently and 

 with greater earnestness, in proportion as they 

 approach nearer the nest. When the bird has 

 sometimes, in consequence of its great impa- 

 tience, got too far a head of its followers ; but 

 particularly when, on account of the unevenness 

 of the ground, they have not been able to keep 

 pace with it ; it has flown back to meet them, 

 and with redoubled cries, denoting still greater 

 . impatience, upbraiding them, as it were, for being 

 so tardy. When it comes to the bees'-nest, 

 whether built in the cleft of a rock, or in a hol- 

 low tree, or in some cavity of the earth, it hovers 

 .over the spot for the space of a few seconds, 

 after which it sits in silence, and for the most 

 part concealed, in some neighbouring tree or 

 bush, in expectation of what may happen, and 

 with a view of receiving its share of the booty. 

 It is probable that this bird always hovers more 

 or less, in the manner just mentioned, over the 

 bees'nest, before it hides itself; though the peo- 

 ple dq not always pay attention to this circum- 



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