136 Mr. W. E. Clarke, Field-Notes 



part of Europe (indeed it is quite a stranger in Hungary, 

 and this is the first recorded occuiTence in the Hungarian 

 States, according to Dr. Madarasz), yet I think there can 

 be little doubt that it had a mate and nest in the " bara.^' 

 On this day, too, we saw a pair of fine young of Kagle-Owls 

 in the possession of a peasant in the village, which he 

 had taken from a wood in the Kupinsky Kut, a locality 

 about ten miles S.E. of Kupinovo, during the first week in 

 May. 



May 30th. Left Kujiinovo at 5 a.m. in a cart for Obrez, for 

 another day in the marsh there. On the way several Hoopoes 

 on the roadside and Booted Eagles on dead trees in the 

 wood were observed. The marsh reached we entered under 

 an intensely hot sun, and found the temperature of the reed- 

 beds somewhat akin to that of an oven. On the tussocks of 

 sedge nests of the White-eyed Duck and Mallard were nume- 

 rous : one of the former contained fourteen eggs and Avas 

 margined with brownish-black down, having greyish tijis at 

 the point of insertion. A nest of the Water-llail was also 

 found in a similar situation ; it contained ten eggs and was a 

 depression amply lined with dry reed-blades. A Sombre Tit 

 uttered its peculiar notes from a willow, and from its constant 

 presence we presumed it had a nest at hand ; but this we 

 failed to find. On leaving the marsh for a siesta at midday 

 we disturbed an l^agle, which we took for a Spotted Eagle, 

 which flew lazily to a tree and allowed us to pass beneath, 

 seeming to be well aware that there was not a gun in the 

 party, a fact accounted for by reason of the marsh being pre- 

 served and to avoid complications. In the afternoon we again 

 entered the marsh and found the nests of the White-eyed 

 Duck almost a nuisance, but at length came across something 

 good in the shape of a nest oi Locustella fluviatilis , from which 

 we put off the old bird. The nest was a deep cup-shaped 

 structure composed entirely of the broad dry blades of reed, 

 and soon fell to pieces when removed from the centre of 

 the tussock of sedge in which it was buried, under the dead 

 growth of former years : it contained five fresh eggs. An 

 attempt was then made to reach the breeding-place of the 



