CUCKOOS. 
187 
to the lower branches of the trees, from which they ascended, 
in a succession of leaps, from branch to branch. 
Some species of cuckoos are fond of honey, in obtaining 
which they show a curious instinct, of which advantage is 
taken by the natives of South Africa. These cuckoos are 
named Honey-guides ; and, having generic characters suffi- 
cient to distinguish them from the other species of the fa- 
mily, have been placed in a separate genus, to which the 
name of Indicator has been appb'ed, in allusion to the use 
made of them by various South African tribes. Mr. Pringle"^ 
says that during his residence in the interior of the Cape 
Colony, he often partook of wild honey procured by its guid- 
ance. He describes the cuckoo as usually sitting on a tree 
by the wayside, and when any passenger approaches it greets 
him with a cry resembling the words, cherr a cherr ! cherr a 
cherr!^^ Should the passer-by attend to the call, the bird 
flies on before him, in short flights, from tree to tree, till it 
has brought him to a spot where a beehive is concealed. 
" It then sits still and silent till he has extracted the honey- 
comb, of which it expects a portion as its share of the spoil ; 
and this share the natives, who profit by its guidance, never 
fail to leave it."'^ The honey-guide is said to be useful also 
* Notes to Poetical Works, p. 77. 
