18 FIFTEEN DAYS ON THE DANUBE. 
were all very tame, and did not move until we had fired an 
almost simultaneous volley, the incredible height of the trees 
unfortunately told, for only one of the birds, hit by my 
brother-in-law, sank slowly down towards the fields, and fell 
dead among the reeds of the above-mentioned channel. The 
other sportsmen therefore changed their rather too light shot 
for heavier, and 1 took up my rifle, the surest help in such 
cases, 
We now hid ourselves as well as we could in the thick 
leafy wood behind the nesting-trees, to wait for the Cor- 
morants to come down again. Assembled in a large flock, 
the frightened birds flew about, high above the wood, and 
were from time to time joined by others who were hastening 
home from their fishing. The circles they were describing 
now grew smaller and smaller, and we could hear the quick 
beats of their heavy pinions more distinctly, when suddenly 
there was a great rush, and above us sounded the grunting 
ery which the Cormorant invariably utters on returning to 
its nest, while the nervous flapping of the wings, by which 
the awkward fellow continually strives to keep his balance 
during the troublesome business of climbing up to the edge 
of his nest, was clearly audible. In a few moments our shots 
rang out again, and were immediately followed by the thuds 
of the slain Cormorants as they fell to the ground. 
The poor creatures were really incredibly incautious, for 
we repeated this manceuvre several times, until they at length 
found the matter was too serious, and flew round us in ever 
widening circuits. 
At one of the last volleys a hard-hit bird had flown into the 
dark wood behind us, and was sinking with staggering flight 
lower and lower among the trees. I at once went to look for 
it, but unfortunately my trouble was all in vain, the under- 
growth of nettles and high grasses being too thick, while my 
efforts were also impeded by the pools which had to be waded. 
