La Junta tribune., 1908-03-07
HONEY GUIDES.
African Birds That Lead Men 70 the
Nssts Of Bees

Nests Of Bees.
For many ages" says n writer. "tLe
small birds which are known In Afri-
Gu Us honey guides have been in 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 I.c Grand In i72s The moroc
or honey bird saws this at..hor, Is
, enducd with peculiar Instinct or fac
ulty Of discovering honey. When the
moroc has discovered any honey he re-
pairs Immediately to the roadside and
when lie sees n traveller sings and
claps his wings. making many mo-
tions to invite him to follow him. and
when hc perceiycs his coming flies be-
fore him from tree 10 tree till he comes
to the place where the bees have stor-
ell their treasure and then begins to
sing melo,llously The Abyssinan
takes the honey without falling to
leave part OF It for the bird to reward
him for his information Sparrman.
who travelled at the Cape In l115-T6.
gives also very good description OF
part of thu continent.
1.-The honey guides lead human he
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 well
aware of this fact. and II they reward
the honey guide. which they usually
do 10 some grIdging extent. break of
for II II piece of the comb In which the
grubs are Matching. Sparrman has a
curious note upon this detail lie says.
Il was Informed by my boshicsmcn
(bushmcnj. as well as by the colonists.
that man who makes I; his constant
business to go after the bees should
not at first he too grateful and gener-
Gus to this oiiicions bird. hut leave for
1t only just as much as viii serve TO
stimulate its appetite. by which means
1t VIII bc induced In hopes Of obtain
Ing more liberal reward 10 discover
another swarm of bees
when II desires To feed upon some
comb which 1t has discovered 1t makes
Its way to n human being. hutters
about restiessly and hops from branch
to branch or from bush 10 bush or
from one ant hill to another until II
succeeds In attracting the mans attcn-
tlon. During this time il uttcrs shrill
cry of 'cberr. cherr. frequently re-
peated. II the man Is a native who
understands its habits and Is willing
to follow II he often gives a soft.
soothing whistle aud, taking with him
n hatchct. accepts the restless little
creatures guidance. The honey guide
now goes on ahead. never keeping very
far away and always jeaiously notic-
Ing whether the man IL 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 tile comb the bird still
fiutters about. chirping. When the busi-
the honey guide descends from Its
perch and helps itself to AS much Of
the larvae as II can find
when thus following a honey guide
the native goes. as Il rule. very quietly.
taking care not TO frighten his small
adviser. II the man by rcasOn of bush
or other obstacle travels. In the birds
opinion. too slowly 1t VIII repeatedly
come back TO him. fly closely and an
grlly abont him and with restless twit-
ters and evident impatience urge upon
him the necessity of hurrylng up"