GREAT HONEY GVWK—IndiMtur viajor. 



between the scapularies, is a streak of dark brown mixed with black ; the wings brown, 

 speckled with lighter yellow brown, and a few white spots ; the primary quill-feathers 

 barred alternately with pale yellow, brown, and black ; the tertials on the upper surface 

 marked with a descending line of black ; upper surface of the tail-feathers mottled with 

 grey and brown, and marked with four irregularly transverse bars of black ; chin, throat, 

 ear-coverts, and neck, in front, pale yellow-brown with narrow transverse black lines ; 

 breast, belly, sides, and under tail-coverts, dull white tinged with yellow-brown, and 

 spotted with black ; under surface of tail-feathers pale greyish brown, speckled and barred 

 with black ; legs, toes, and claws brown." The total length of the adult male bird is about 

 seven inches, and the female is a little smaller than her mate. 



The Cuckoos constitute a large family, containing several smaller groups, and many 

 species. Eepresentatives of the groups will be found in the following pages. All these 

 birds have a rather long, slender, and somewhat curved beak, which in some species takes 

 a curve so decided, that it gives quite a predaceous air to its owner. Examples of the 

 Cuckoo tribe are to be found in almost every portion of the globe, and are most plentiful 

 about the tropics. 



The first group is that of which the celebrated Geeat Honey Guide is our typical 

 example. The Honey Guides derive their name from the fact that they are extremely 

 fond of wild bees and their honey, and by their eager cries attract keen-eared and sharp- 

 eyed hunters to the spoil. It has been said that the birds intentionally ask the aid of 

 mankind to dig out the nests when the combs are placed in too secure a spot, and that 

 they utter their peculiar cry of " Cherr ! cherr ! " to call attention, and then precede their 

 human assistants to the nest, fluttering their wings, and keeping a few yards in advance. 

 That they do lead travellers to the bees' nests is true enough, but that they should seek 

 out human beings, and intentionally bring them to the sweet stores, seems doubtful, 

 though it has been affirmed by many travellers. 



At all events, even up to the present time, whenever the Honey Guide does succeed in 

 leading the Hottentot to a store of honey, the men are grateful to it for the service, and do 

 not eat the whole of the honey, leaving some for their confederate. Neither will they 



