honey-bird, noun

obsolescent. honey-guide.
1804 R. Percival Acct of Cape of G.H. 168The honey bird, or indicator, is common here in the woods.
1829 C. Rose Four Yrs in Sn Afr. 233The noise of the honey-bird was heard, which a Hottentot quickly answered by a whistle, and followed..and the bird conducted him to the nest.
1860 A.W. Drayson Sporting Scenes 166Sometimes the position of a beehive is discovered by the aid of a honey-bird...This useful little creature is, of course, rewarded with a share of the honey.
1880 E.F. Sandeman Eight Months in Ox-Waggon 236A small grey bird with a reddish beak, the size of a sparrow, had flown alongside and round the waggon for the last mile of our trek, making a shrill hissing cry...This little insignificant visitor was the far-famed Honey-bird.
1893 F.C. Selous Trav. & Adventure 445Gone in pursuit of a honey-bird.
1911 L. Cohen Reminisc. of Kimberley 390The honey..was procured..through the aid of the far-famed honey-bird.
1925 D. Kidd Essential Kafir 104With the Hottentots it is almost a religion to leave any important work unfinished and immediately to follow the honey-bird.
1958 S. Cloete Mask 111Whenever he saw a honey bird fluttering from branch to branch and calling him he followed it to the nest in a hollow tree or rock cleft that it had found.
1969 F. Goldie River of Gold 82That is the honey-bird, N’kosana. It wants to show us where the honey is.
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