THE HONEY-BIRD. 115 
to, when the little feathered attendant made 
its appearance, chirping loudly, and hovering 
about them: it then flew forward, still chirp- 
ing, and watching to see if they followed. It 
tried twice to lead them across a kloof,* fly- 
ing back, and again forward, to entice them 
to follow: they, however, not liking to go 
that way, and the Hottentot still continuing 
to whistle the call, the bird at length flew 
back, and led another way, still watching and 
chirping to them to follow him, which they 
now did, and very soon it hovered over a 
place in the rock, where, on searching, they 
found a hive full of honey: the bird imme- 
diately perched in a bush over them, and 
waited patiently till they had taken the 
honey, when it flew down, and took posses- 
sion of the rest, and eat what was left for it. 
‘** The Honey-bird is rather larger than a 
Sparrow, with brown feathers. The quan- 
tity of honey taken every year is immense, 
and its flavour very delicious. The Bees 
seldom or ever sting, if they are not hurt. 
The Hottentot is very particular in his man- 
ner of leaving the honey for the bird, as he 
* Cleft, or ravine. 
