THROUGH WILD EUROPE 221 



I had made one attempt at the carcase of a horse, 

 but it was in a bad place : too near a frequented 

 roadway, and by the time we heard of it it had been 

 almost devoured. From the hollow cavity encircled 

 by the rib-bones, now bare and white, flew a perfect 

 cloud of Magpies and Hooded Crows, like a legion 

 of evil spirits, while three or four savage dogs from 

 some huts which were near tore at the bones and 

 growled fiercely at one another. I had some diffi- 

 culty in driving them off. A Golden Eagle sat on 

 the top of a tree in a neighbouring field, and at least 

 a dozen Ravens were assembled on another, hardly 

 condescending to move or even to look round as we 

 rode past, while four Griffons occupied a dead and 

 withered stump in the borders of the forest. But I 

 did no good here, it was altogether too near the 

 houses, yet it seemed to prove that the birds were 

 there and could be attracted by a carcase if I could 

 find a suitable place provided with a hollow tree in 

 which to hide, sufficiently remote to be out of the 

 reach of the dogs, which would be certain to smell 

 out anything within half a mile. 



From my friends' house, which was on an elevated 

 hill, there was a good view of the forest and country 

 round. One evening, while examining the distance 

 through my field-glass for any signs of birds or nests, 

 I thought I could make out at a great distance a 

 large nest on the summit of a tree. I even fancied 



