THROUGH WILD EUROPE 295 



Our third and last day we spent in the endeavour 

 to reach a distant nesting-place of the great Eagle 

 Owl (Bubo maximus). However, we never got 

 there, for after we had gone quite fifteen kilometres 

 I was told that it was still twenty more, and as it 

 was then 3 p.m. we decided to give up the quest. 



We had delayed too long at a nest of Imperial 

 Eagle (Aquila imperialis), which we had found on 

 the way. It being in a favourable position, an 

 attempt was made to photograph the bird, which had 

 left the nest as we approached. Hiding up among 

 some bushes on the hillside almost level with the nest, 

 which was in a silver poplar in a valley, we waited 

 some time in vain. Then I sent away two of the 

 men, Andreas and Dimitru, as there were five of us, 

 too many by far. Still another wait, and no sign of 

 the Eagle. I was just saying to Rettig, ' Elle ne vient 

 pas,' and was preparing to get up, when a low hiss 

 from him made me look up, and I saw that she had 

 alighted on the nest, unfortunately behind a branch 

 which hid nearly all her body. She gave me a 

 better chance a few moments later, after which she 

 left. But she soon returned. Neither time was 

 she in a good position, but I had to take it or 

 nothing. 



Then Rettig handed me the rifle, and I fired 

 after taking a steady aim. She seemed to fall, but 

 recovered and went off apparently all right, and 



