"HONEY -GUIDE CUCKOWY 
activity. 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 other resting-place, the hunters are sure of 
Ending the Bees nest in that identical spot : 
-whether it be in a tree ; or in the crevice of a 
r ( ock; or, as is most commonly the case, in 
the earth. While the hunters are busy in 
taking the honey, the bird is seen looking on 
attentively to what is going forward, and wait- 
ing for it's 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 it's hunger. 
The bird's appetite being only whetted by this 
parsimony, it is obliged to commie a second 
treason, by discovering another Bees nest, in 
hopes of a better salary. It is farther observed, 
that the nearer the bird approaches the hidden 
hive, the more frequently it repeats it's call* 
and seems more impatient. 
64 I have had frequent opportunities of see- 
ing this bird : and have been witness of the de- 
struction of several republicks of Bees by means 
of it's treachery, I had, however, but two op- 
portunities 
