CUCKOO. 
44f 
took the opportunity, when his sister Juno was alone 
on the Dictean mount, to raise a violent storm, and 
having taken the form of a cuckoo he alighted on 
the knees of the goddess, w ho, seeing it drenched 
and beaten by the tempest, took compassion on the 
bird and dried it in her bosom ; the god then re- 
sumed his proper form, and afterwards became the 
husband of his sister. From that time the Dictean 
mount was called Coccygian, or Cuckoo mountain; 
and hence the origin of the Jupiter-cuculus. 
We cannot conclude the account of the cuckoo 
without noticing the sagacious little African species. 
There is nothing particularly striking in the appear- 
ance of this bird ; but its manners are so singular, 
that what we are going to relate might be considered 
as an idle tale, if it was not well authenticated by 
travellers of veracity. From the readiness with 
which this little creature discovers the nests of bees, 
it has obtained the specific name of Indicator, and 
is likewise called by the African farmers, the 
Honey-bird. We are assured that as soon as the 
indicator observes a nest of honey it immediately 
flies to the first human being it can find, and by its 
chirping and fluttering invites the person to follow, 
who generally obeys the summons, as the bird is 
Well known in the country. It leads the way di- 
rectly towards the spot, flying from bush to bush, or 
from one ant-hill to another ; and if the person does 
not follow quick enough to please the honey-bird, 
it will increase its chirping, stop and flutter about, 
and try every art to rouse his attention. When 
