THE HONEY-BIRD. 117 
swarm of Bees has taken up its abode. The 
persons thus invited, accordingly, follow, tak- 
ing care, at the same time, not to frighten 
their guide by any unusual noise, but rather 
to answer it, now and then, by a soft 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 sporting 
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 to the 
nest. When, sometimes, the bird, in conse- 
quence of its greater impatience, has 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 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 hollow tree, or in 
some cavity of the earth, it hovers over the 
spot for a few seconds; after which, it sits in 
