bis Journey into Africa. 
43 
THE HISTORY OF THE HONEY-GUIDE, OR 
CUCULUS INDICATOR. 
THIS curious fpecies of Cuckow is found at a confi- 
de r able diftance from the Cape of Good-Hope, in the in- 
terior parts of Africa, being entirely unknown at that 
fettlement. The firft place where I heard of it was in a 
wood, called the Groot Vaader's Bofch , the Grand Fa- 
ther’s Wood, fituated in a defart near the river which the 
Hottentots call T’kaufkai. The Dutch fettlers there- 
abouts have given this bird the name of Honig-wyzer , 
or Honey-guide, from its quality of difcovering wild- 
honey to travellers. Its colour has nothing ftriking or 
beautiful, as will appear from the defcription and drawing 
annexed ; and its fize is confiderably fmaller than that of 
our Cuckow in Europe : but in return, the inftinit which 
prompts it to feek its food in a lingular manner, is truly 
admirable. Not only the Dutch and Hottentots, but like- 
wife a fpecies of quadruped, which the Dutch name a 
Rat el ( are frequently conducted to wild bee-hives by 
this bird, which as it were pilots them to the very fpot. 
The honey being its favourite food, its own intereffc 
prompts it to be inftrumental in robbing the hive, as 
( a) Probably a new fpecies of badger, 
G 2 feme 
