The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-04-21
INSTINCT or THE HONEY BIRD.

This extraordinary little bird, which 10
abou, the size Of u chaffinch, and Of light
4 grey color, will Invariably lead person
following il, to a wild bees nest. Chatter
ing and iwittering in state Of great ex-
lcitemeni, il perches on branch beside the
Itraveler, endeavoring by various wiles to
attract bis attention; aud having succeeded
in doing SO, it aies lightly forward in wa
" course in the direction of the bees nest,
lightibg every now and then and looking
back 10 see if the traveller is following it,
all the time keeping up an ncessant twit-
ter. When at length it arrives at the hol-
fowtree, or deserted white ants hill, which
contains the honey, it for a moment hovers
over the nest, pointing to j, with its bill,
| and then takes up ts position on neigh
boring branch, anxiously awaiting its share
OF the spoil. When the honey is taken,
which s accomplished by first supplying
the bees by burning grass at the entrance
Of their domestic domicil, the honey bird
will often lead to second and even to q
third nest. The person thus following it
lolght 10 whistle. The savages in the in
Iterior whilst in pursuit, have several charm
ed sentences which they use on the occasion.
The wild bee Of South Africa exactly cor
responds with the domestic garden bee Of
England, They are very generally diffused
Throughout every part of Africa, beeswax
forming considerable part of the cargoes
fships trading to the gold nd ivory coasts,
and the deadly district Of Sierra Leone, on
the western shores Of Africa.
Interesting as the honey bird is, and
though sweet be the stores to which it leads,
have often had cause to wish il far enough,
as, when following the warm spoor or track
of elephants, have often seen the savages,
At moments OF the utmost Importance, re-
sign the spaor Of the beasts, to attend the
summons of the bird. Sometimes, howev-
er, they are ''sold,' i. being a well known
fact, boih among the Hottentots and tribes
OF tie interior, that they often lead the un-
wary pursuer to danger, somstmes guiding
him to the mid day retreat Of the grizzly
lion, or bringing him suddenly upon the
den oflhe crouching panther. remember
an oge occasion, about three years later,
when weary with warring against the
mighty elephants and hippopotamus, which
roaa, iha vast forests and sport in the foods
of the fair Limpopo, having mounted pair
Of unuonted shot barrels, sought recrea-
ton IN the humber pursuits of quail shoot.
ing. While thus employed, my attention
was suddenly invited by garrulous honey
bird, which pertinacious'y adhered to me
for considerable time, needless of re-
port made by a gun. Having bagged 40
many quai!s and par.ridges as cared q
bout shooting, whistled Justify to the hon.
ey bird, and gave him chase; after follow
ing him distance Of upwards ofa mile,
through the open glades adjoining the Linn
poPo, be led me 10 an unusually vnst croc-
odIe, who was lying with bis entire body
concealed. nothing bu, his horrible head
being visible above the su,iacs of the wa
ter, his eyes anxiously watching the move
ments Of eight or ten large buffalo bulls,
which, in seeking to quench their thirst 10
tbs waters Of the river, were cracking
through the dry reeds as they cautiously
wsded in the deep mud that recent flood
had deposited along the edge. Fortunate
ly for the buffaloes, the depth Of tho mud
prevented their reaching tho stream, and
thus the scalv monster of the river, was dis
appointed of his prey.--Cumming's Aduen-
lures.