CHAP. XY11I. 
THE HONEY-BIRD. 
161 
As the bird approaches the ‘ bees’ nest ’ the chirp 
turns more and more into a cluck, like a hen giving 
a grub to her chicken. The bird at last will go as near 
as it can to the hive or hole in the tree, and then 
cluck and point with its little bill towards the small 
hole through which the bees pass in and out. After 
doing this the bird remains perfectly silent, to indicate 
that it has shown you the hive. When the bird sees 
that you have discovered the bees’ nest it starts off 
again, chirping and clucking, and in that way shows 
you from one to six or seven nests of honey. 
On one occasion, when I was en route with the 
troops overland to take possession of Natal, in 1843, 
one bird during our morning halt showed me seven 
bees’ nests one after the other. We took out more 
honey from them than the whole squadron of cavalry 
could consume; and quantities were carried on in the 
comb to the infantry, who had marched in advance. 
The natives, both Kafirs and Hottentots, have an 
idea that there are ‘wicked’ birds as well as ‘good’ 
ones, and say that some birds will take you to a tiger, 
a buffalo, or a snake, &c. The bird always ceases to 
chatter after it has shown you a nest, and instinct takes 
it in a direct line to where the nest is. It thus very 
often happens that you stumble on one or other of the 
above-named animals or reptiles. The flurry frightens 
the bird, and it ceases to 6 talk ; ’ hence the supposition 
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