Letters, Extracts, and Notes. 765 
of the unknown highlands of New Guinea for as long a time 
as possible. 
Habits of the Honey-Guides .—In Col. Patterson’s recently 
published volume * In the Grip of the Nyika ’ we read (p. 223) 
as follows :— 
“ As we were marching quietly along soon after leaving 
Kurseine, my guide, Papai, suddenly showed signs of great 
excitement, and drew our attention to a tiny bird, fluttering 
and twittering in front of us in a very curious fashion. On 
asking him through Abudi what its antics meant, he replied 
f He is telling us where to get honey.’ I was naturally very 
much interested, and when Papai asked me if I would halt 
the safari for a little, so that he might go and rob the nest, 
1 willingly consented and myself accompanied him, who now 
relinquished to the tiny bird his role of guide. The little 
thing, which was barely the size of a Wren, twittered and 
chirruped and fluttered along from one bush to another, 
looking round pertly all the time to see if we were following. 
In this way it led us on for about a quarter of a mile, until 
at last it came to a dead stop, and took up its position on a 
tree, where it remained motionless. 
“ Papai then told us that we w'ere now close to the honey, 
and must be on the look-out for the bees coming and going. 
In a few seconds we discovered them entering a tiny hole in 
a tree not a dozen yards from where our cunning little guide 
had stopped. 
We very soon had an opening made sufficiently large for 
Papai to thrust his hand into the hollow, and in this w~ay he 
removed several honeycombs full of the most delicious 
golden honey. He took not the slightest notice of the bees, 
though they flew all round him, and some of them stung 
him. We were much pleased with our spoil, and left a 
fair share of it behind as a reward for the trusty little bird 
who had led us along so skilfully.” 
3 e 2 
