448 
CUCKOO. 
nearly arrived at the nest, it takes its station in a 
tree and observes a profound silence, while its com- 
panion plunders the honey. This operation is no 
sooner performed than the bird flies to the spot, 
and there makes a delicious repast on a portion of 
the honey, which is always left behind as a reward 
for its services. 
Dr. Sparrman, whose voyage to the Cape is so well 
known, assures us, that he has several times been at 
the taking wild bees’ nests in this manner, and that 
he has twice observed the bird hover over the spot 
where the honey is to be found, for a few seconds, 
before it takes its station on the tree. This gentle- 
man was shown a nest which was said to belong to 
this cuckoo. It was composed of slender filaments 
of bark, woven together in the form of a bottle; the 
neck and opening hung downwards ; and a string, 
in an arched shape, was suspended across the open- 
ing, fastened by the two ends, probably for the bird 
to perch on. 
