The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1907-12-11
HONEY GUIDES.
African Birds That Lead Men 90 Che
Nests Of Sees.

y DtFub tHdt ksya0 "0U 20 Nn0
Nests Of Sees.
"For many ages" says a writer, "the
small birds which ere knowp In Afri-
ca as honey guides have been I'm the
habit Of leading human beings to the
nests Of bees. The first notice of the
kind OF which I have knowledge is in
'Lobo's Travels In Abyssinia,' publish
ed by lie Grand In 1928. The moroc
or honey Bird says this author, is
endued with a peculiar instinct or fac
ulty Of discovering honey. When the
moroc has discovered any honey he re-
pairs Immediately to the roadside and
when he sees a traveller sings and
claps his wings, making many mo-
lions to invite him to follow him, and
when he p~erceives his coming flies be-
fore him from tree to tree till he
to the place where the bees have stor-
ed their treasure and then begins to
sing melodiously. The Abysslnian
takes the honey without falling to
leave part Of 1t for the bird to reward
him for his information Sparrman,
who travelled at the Cape In 177576,
gives also a very good description Of
the bird as observed in the southern
part Of the continent.
"The honey guides lead human be-
ings to the nests Of wild bees not so
much for the honey as for the grubs
or larvae found within the comb. The
natives are for the most part we'll
aware of this fact, and If they reward
the honey guide, which they usually
do to some %grudging extent, break of
for 1t a piece Of the comb in which the
grubs are Matching. Sparrman has a
curious note upon this detail. He SAYS,
I was Informed by my boshiesmen
(bushmen), as well as by the ~colonists.
that a man who makes 1t his constant
business to go after the bees should
not at first DO too grateful and gener-
Gus to this oflcious bird, but leave for
1t only just as much as will serve to
stimulate its appetite, by which means
1t Will be induced in hopes OF obtain
Ing a more liberal reward to discover
another swarm Of bees
when 1t desires to feed upon some
comb which IL has discovered 1t makes
Its way to a human being, futters
about restlessly and hops from branch
to branch or from bush to bush or
from n ant hill to another until It
succeeds In attracting the mans atten-
ton. During this time 1t utters a shrill
cry of 'cherr, cherrl frequently re-
peated. If the man is n native who
understands its habits and is willing
to follow 1t he often gives a soft,
soothing whistle and, taking with him
a Ratchet, accepts the restless little
creatures guidance. The honey guide
now goes on ahead, never keeping very
far away and always jealousy MOTTO
ing whether the man Is really follow
Ing. AT length the honey nest is reach
ed and the birds object accomplished.
While the native or natives attack the
nest and rife the comb the bird still
futters about, chirping. When the bust
ness Is concluded and the men depart
the honey guide descends from its
perch and helps itself to as much Of
the larvae as it can find.
when thus following q honey guide
the native goes, as q rule, very quietly,
taking care not to brighten his small
adviser. If he man by reason of bush
or other obstacle travels, in the birds
opinion, too slowly 1t will repeatedly
come back to him, fly closely md an
grily about him and with restless twit-
tiers and evident impatience urge upon
him the necessity Of hurrying up"