162 
SPORT AND WAR. 
CHAP. XVIII. 
in the native mind that it has been 6 wicked ’ and lured 
the hunter to danger. 
Sometimes the bees make their hives in cavities 
under the surface of the ground or in hollow anthills, 
which are generally in the open, and not in the 
bush; and as there is then no tree on which the bird 
can settle it will fly from the nearest tree or bush and 
make a swoop, flapping with its wings, down to the 
ground, to show where the bees’ nest is. Very often 
these hives are difficult to find, even after the bird 
has shown the spot, as the orifice in the tree or ground 
is not larger than a gimlet-hole, or if larger the re¬ 
maining space is filled up by a dark-coloured wax 
called 4 beeswork.’ Moreover, in cold or rainy weather 
the bees may not be working—that is, gathering honey 
—and you have then to apply your ear to any crevice or 
hole and listen for the 6 drone ’ which always proceeds 
from the swarm. On your striking the tree with any¬ 
thing hard the drone becomes a perfect buzz ; and it is 
well if you do not get a sting or even a dozen of them 
before you move away. 
The mode of taking a nest is to chop a hole in the 
tree large enough to admit a man’s hand and arm, and 
puff tobacco or other smoke into it; the bees then soon 
become stupefied, and swarm or cluster away, after which 
you take out the honeycomb. 
All this time the honey-bird is watching you so 
