8 FIFTEEN DAYS ON THE DANUBE. 
were the Captain (an exceedingly skilful officer of the 
Merchant Navy, to whom we all owe our warmest thanks), 
his Lieutenant and crew, also the chef and his assistants. 
To complete the list of our travelling-party, I must 
mention three individuals who have for long done me ex- 
cellent service on my numerous shooting expeditions. The 
first was “ Blak,” my jet-black pointer, though he really does 
not at all deserve this title, as it is only on the rarest occa- 
sions that he points either partridges or hares; but he is, on 
the other hand, a very good retriever, pursues and catches 
all wounded game from deer down to rabbits, is very quick 
after vermin, shows great attachment and cleverness, and, 
from constant intercourse with mankind, is, as far as his 
canine intelligence permits, refined and ennobled to quite an 
extraordinary degree. In consequence of the great attention 
he bestows on the entire bird-world, and from his lively 
participation in all ornithological pursuits, Brehm always 
called my old Blak ‘the ornithological dog,’ and this name 
stuck to him during the whole journey. 
The second of the band was my red setter, “ Castor,” a very 
good water-dog, of whom there is not much to be said, for he 
is fonder of sleep and good feeding than of over-exerting 
himself in noble hunting feats. 
My perfectly tame Eagle-Owl, the third of this trio, was 
a very remarkable domestic creature, and a hero in his 
way, for over him I have already shot many eagles, whose 
bold attacks he has proudly awaited with perfect courage. 
This Owl was an ornament to the vessel, and devoured the 
bodies of many of the skinned birds, while the quiet and 
enange of air did him a great deal of good; but that 
was all, for we never had an opportunity of using him in 
shooting. 
Returning to our men, I ought to mention how strange a 
medley of people from the most different countries there 
