2 FIFTEEN DAYS ON THE DANUBE. 
Whenever of late years Hodek returned from his travels 
and told me of his labours and wonderful successes, his 
tale sounded in my ears like a siren’s song, and I felt 
irresistibly drawn towards these dark forests with their 
oaks centuries old and their rich fauna pent within these 
last refuges by the obliterating civilization of mankind. For 
the past two years I had intended to visit them myself, 
but had always lacked time and opportunity; for, near 
as they are to the heart of Central Europe, a prolonged 
excursion to these districts involves many difficulties. One 
may either run quickly down to them in a fast steamer 
or reach certain points by rail; but in either case there 
remain great obstacles to be overcome before one can 
penetrate into the best sporting localities. In order to 
really enjoy the journey, and accomplish true scientific 
work, one must fit out a regular expedition ; and this is 
the main reason why these tracts have been so little explored 
by sportsmen and naturalists. For while most of the 
scientific Societies, Clubs, Unions, or whatever they are 
ealled, equip great expeditions and send them to other 
quarters of the world whenever they have the means to do 
so, parts of our own country near at hand are still in many 
respects shrouded in a veil of mystery. 
At last the long-sought opportunity presented itself. 
Brehm came to Vienna at the end of March, and I think 
there is no necessity for describing at greater length the 
man who was the most important personage of our party. 
The object of his visit was to deliver some lectures, and 
at the same time to devote himself with all his energy 
to the solution of the question whether the “ Stein ”* and 
Golden Eagles were to be considered separate species or 
not. IJ had furnished him with as much material for this 
* A form of the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaétos) not recognized by 
English ornithologists. 
