12 FIFTEEN DAYS ON THE DANUBE. 
knew Adony, and even the Captain did not seem to be 
quite clear about it; but as for some time past we had seen 
more and more herons and cormorants flying up and 
down stream, we knew that the colony could not be much 
further off. On nearing the island, we observed herons on 
the tops of the trees, while some coming from a distance were 
disappearing among the dense foliage. We also saw crows 
wheeling about, and were greeted by the noisy chattering of 
many birds, and therefore knew that we were near a great 
breeding-place, but were not quite sure whether it was 
Adony ; so the only thing to do was to land, for the keepers, 
attracted by the shots, would certainly be kind enough to 
inform us where we were. 
We therefore gave the order “ Let go the anchor!” for 
things were conducted with military precision on board the 
peaceful steamer of the Danube Steam Navigation Company. 
The boats were then cleared away, and in a few minutes we 
were clambering up the crumbling bank. 
The first nest was close to the river-side, about halfway up 
a tree, and from it protruded the forked tail of a Black Kite. 
We had already marked this nest from the steamer, but 
before we could reach it its occupant had vanished ; for the 
kite had observed our faultless naval manceuvres with 
evident interest, and hardly had we set foot on shore when 
it saved itself from the too-intrusive strangers by flight. 
We now separated in various directions, each of us having 
his gun loaded, and bent on shooting as many interesting 
birds as he could. 
A few paces from the bank stood a large old oak, with 
a Grey Heron’s nest on its topmost branches. I crept up, 
and a few gentle taps on the trunk of the tree frightened out a 
fine heron, which flew away with quickly-flapping wings. A 
shot brought it to the ground, and at this, the first signal, 
the whole wood became alive: Grey Herons swung them- 
