538 CLASS AVES. 



senting them with chests or boxes. This bird probably 

 experiences some difficulty in procuring an aliment of which 

 it appears particularly fond ; but instinct appears to have 

 directed it to call man to its assistance, by indicating the nest 

 of the bees with a very sharp cry, which, according to some 

 travellers, is the word which signifies honey in the language 

 of the Hottentots. It utters this cry morning and evening, 

 and seems to call the persons who are hunting for honey 

 in the African deserts. They reply, in a graver tone, as they 

 approach. The moment the bird beholds them, it proceeds 

 to hover over the tree which contains a bee-hive ; and if 

 they delay to come, it redoubles its cries, flies towards them, 

 and, by various turns backwards and forwards, indicates the 

 spot in a very marked manner. While they are seizing the 

 contents of the hive, the indicator remains in the neigh- 

 bourhood, and awaits his portion, which is certain always to be 

 left for him. The existence of this bird is valuable to the 

 Hottentots, and they never see it killed but with an evil eye. 



The Barbacous and Malcohas we must pass over, as 

 containing no matter of interest to the reader. 



Of ScYTHROPS there is but one species, peculiar to 

 Australasia. It feeds on certain grains and scarabasi. It 

 often extends its tail like a fan, and utters a piercing and 

 almost terrific cry, something like that of the cock when he 

 perceives a bird of prey. These birds are never seen but 

 in the morning and evening, sometimes seven or eight in 

 number, but more usually in pairs. Their appearance and 

 cries, according to the natives, constitute a certain index of 

 approaching wind or storm. They are of a wild and fierce 

 character, and cannot be tamed. They refuse all food, and 

 peck violently at those who approach them. 



Of the family of theBARBETs, including their three sub- 

 divisions, as given in the text, our notice must be general, and 

 very brief. The first are natives of Africa and India : of 

 the second, some are found in both continents ; and the third 



