166 THE HONEY-BIRD. 



another bee ; and so on until we were led up to the hive, 

 which was generally situated in a hollow tree. The Kaffir 

 then, gently inserting his arm, seizes hold of a large piece 

 of the comb, and quietly withdraws his hand; he then 

 walks quietly away a few yards with his prize. The bees, 

 of course, fly all round him, and settle on his face and 

 shoulders; he does not attempt to drive them off, but 

 waits until they leave him. He then pouches the honey, 

 wax, and eggs, and goes again to the hive to repeat the 

 performance. If any of the bees get a squeeze with the 

 hand or arm, they give a peculiar buzz, which seems to 

 intimate to all other bees that they are to attack the 

 intruders. Once on taking a bees'-nest, I was severely 

 stung ; they came and settled round my eyes, and I could 

 with difficulty beat them off, and make my escape : it was 

 all owing to my having squeezed a bee by accident as I 

 was getting out the honey. Their stings, however, are not 

 so severe as the English bee, as I suffered but little from 

 these numerous stings. The middle of the day is generally 

 chosen for taking a bees'-nest, as fewer are then at 

 home. 



Sometimes the position of a beehive is discovered by 

 the aid of a honey-bird. This little creature appears to 

 have sense beyond its feathered brethren ; it apparently 

 calls the traveller, and indicates that it wishes him to 

 follow it, uttering perpetually a peculiar note, and flying 

 from tree to tree, until it reaches the vicinity of the hive, 

 when it gives a grand chorus of chirps. This useful little 

 creature is, of course, rewarded with a share of the honey, 

 and has the pickings from the hollow tree besides. 



