THROUGH WILD EUROPE 107 



colours than at home. Birds of prey flew past 

 occasionally ; amongst others a male Goshawk and 

 a young Imperial Eagle were identified as we rode 

 along. 



There was also a small bird, of sober colouring, 

 whose note was astonishingly loud and strong, 

 starting off suddenly like an explosion of fireworks. 

 I had a suspicion it was the Penduline Tit, but 

 never settled the point to my satisfaction. Either it 

 was met with when we were travelling or else when 

 we were intent on more important game, and 

 couldn't attend to it. 



There was such a variety of attractions that once, 

 not looking where I was going, as I should have 

 done, and my horse taking a short cut under an 

 overhanging bough, I was swept ignominiously out 

 of the saddle. I generally rode a sturdy little black 



horse belonging to B , which played me many a 



trick, and was brimful of life and devilment. He 

 had been ridden chiefly by Marco before my arrival, 

 and for some time I could not overcome his habit of 



keeping behind B . It was most exasperating 



to ride through the town at the heels of his horse, 

 and without a whip it was almost impossible to keep 



him level for more than a minute or two. B s 



horse was, too, a very quick ambler, a pace much 

 prized in these countries where so much travelling 

 has perforce to be done at a walking pace. The 



