HONEY-GUIDE. 



133 



hives by this bird, which, as it were, pilots them 

 to the very spot. The honey being its favourite 

 food, its own interest prompts it to be instru- 

 mental in robbing the hive, as some scraps are 

 commonly left for its support. The morning and 

 evening are its times of feeding, and it is then 

 heard calling in a shrill tone, cherr, chen\ which 

 the honey-hunters carefully attend to as the sum- 

 mons to the chase. From time to time they an- 

 swer with a soft whistle, which the bird hearing 

 always continues its note. As soon as they are 

 in sight of each other, the bird gradually nutters 

 towards the place where the hive is situated, con- 

 tinually repeating its former call of cherr, cherr; 

 nay, if it should happen to have gained a consi* 

 derable way before the men (who may easily be 

 hindered in the pursuit by bushes, rivers, or the 

 like), it returns to them again, and redoubles its 

 note, as if to reproach them with their inactivity* 

 At last the bird is observed to hover for a few 

 moments over a certain spot ; and then silently 

 retiring to a neighbouring bush or resting-place, 

 the hunters are sure of rinding the bees' nest in 

 that identical spot ; whether it be in a tree or in 

 the crevice of a rock, or (as is most commonly the 

 case), in the earth. Whilst the hunters are busy 

 in taking the honey, the bird is seen looking on 

 attentively to what is going forward, and waiting 

 for its share of the spoil. The bee-hunters never 

 fail to leave a small portion for their conductor ; 

 but commonly take care not to leave so much 

 as would satisfy his hunger. The bird's appetite 



