THE BUrrALO BIED. 
143 
Skeins of silk and hanks of thread have been often founds 
after the leaves were fallen, hanging round the Baltimore's 
nest^ but so woven up and entangled as to be entirely un- 
reclaimable/^ Mr. Wilson adds, that the strongest and 
best materials are invariably found in those parts which sup- 
port the nest. 
Dr. Andrew Smith discovered, in the interior of South 
Africa, a new species of Textor [T, erythrorliynclms), the 
habits of which are curious. It was always found either 
perched on the back of a buffalo, o» flying over a herd of 
them. At first Dr. Smith gave it the name of Buffalo-bird 
[Buhalornis)j and well it deserves the English name at all 
events ; for, not only by feeding on the parasitic insects 
of the big quadruped's hide, does the blackish-brown bird, 
with the thick yellowish-red bill, rid the buffaloes of a nui- 
sance, but he acts the part of a sentinel. " On observing 
any unusual appearance in the neighbourhood, its atten- 
tion is immediately directed to it ; and, if alarm is eventu- 
ally excited, the bird flies up, upon which all the buffaloes 
instantly raise their heads, and endeavour to discover the 
cause which had led to the sudden departure of the sentinel. 
If they are successful in the attempt, and see reason to fear 
for their own safety, they take to flight in a body, and are 
