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TWELFTH DAY, 197 
such large numbers of raptorial birds that one might really 
call it a colony of them, for nest after nest decorated the tree- 
tops. First we found a pair of Imperial Eagles still busy 
building, and a little way further on was the basket-like nest 
of an Eagle-Owl on the topmost branches of a small oak. 
The rather small but beautifully plumaged male was sitting 
on the tree somewhat below the nest; and as my careful 
attempt to stalk it was quite unsuccessful, we tried to get a 
shot at the female by hammering at the stem of the tree, but 
nothing moved; and we were just going away when all at 
once the splendid large owl slipped quietly out of the nest 
and flew off through the trees, where I caught sight of it too 
late, and made the mistake of firing an uncertain shot at too 
great a range. Some pellets must, however, have hit it, for 
there were feathers floating about, and the bird did not return 
to its nest. 
A few paces further on the real colony began, and here 
there was a nest on almost every tree, but of course not all 
occupied, for many were hanging down, having been half 
destroyed by the herdsmen, and others either had no tenants 
this year, or had more probably been already robbed of their 
eggs, while at some the birds were still building, 
Scared by the shots, the inhabitants of the wood were flying 
about over the tops of the trees—Imperial, Spotted, Pygmy, 
and Short-toed Eagles, Common and Black Kites, Goshawks, 
and Kestrels wheeling about in wild disorder, like the inmates 
of a heronry or of a colony of cormorants. 
Concealing myself under a tree I sat down to allow them 
to get a little quieter, and to study the distribution of the 
nests. Imperial and Spotted Eagles were still busily building, 
and the nest of a Short-toed Eagle had unfortunately been 
destroyed by the herdsmen. Of the two pairs of Pygmy 
Eagles, one was still employed in the construction of its nest, 
and the other occupied in the duties of breeding. The Gos- 
