. Reptiles and birds : a popular account of their various orders, with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting . observed, it proceeds tofly, and leads thus for great distances till it reaches the place wherethe hive is, which it takes care to point out by every means in itspower. Whilst the honey is being taken, the bird remains in theneighbourhood, observing all that passes, and when that is accom-plished, it approaches to reap the fruits of its trouble. The beesmake very little buzzing, but flutter round, trying to sting it, but itsskin is impervious to their eftbrts
. Reptiles and birds : a popular account of their various orders, with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting . observed, it proceeds tofly, and leads thus for great distances till it reaches the place wherethe hive is, which it takes care to point out by every means in itspower. Whilst the honey is being taken, the bird remains in theneighbourhood, observing all that passes, and when that is accom-plished, it approaches to reap the fruits of its trouble. The beesmake very little buzzing, but flutter round, trying to sting it, but itsskin is impervious to their eftbrts. Often, however, the despoiled 446 REPTILES AND BIRDS. bees attack its eyes, and sometimes succeed in blinding it: theunfortunate bird, incapable of guiding itself, then perishes in sight ofthe place that witnessed its triumph. The Hottentots esteem Honey-guides very highly, on account of the services which they renderthem in revealing the abodes of bees, and they therefore scruple tokill them. The group of Cuckoos is supplemented by several more speciesnearly allied to the genus Cuckoo, upon which it is useless for us Fig. 172.—European Cuckoo. Anis have bulky, short, very compressed beaks, surmounted by aslight and sharp crest. They inhabit the countries of EquatorialAmerica, and live in troops of from thirty to forty in the midst ofsavannahs and marshes. They feed upon reptiles and insects ; theyare often seen to alight upon cattle, to devour the insect parasiteswhich torment them ; hence comes their scientific name of Croto-phaga, or eaters of insects. They are of very gentle, confidingnatures, and the sight of man does not frighten them ; besides, thereis no advantage in killing them, for their flesh exhales a repulsiveodour. Taken young, they become very familiar, and are as quick asParrots in learning the art of speaking. They possess the instinct ofsociability in the highest degree; so much so, that they do not even BARBETS. 447 isolate themselves at pair
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectreptiles, bookyear1
