TWELITH DAY. 203 
really belonged to the human species or was not still closely 
related to our cousins the apes. His face, framed by hair 
dripping with grease, was a perfect caricature, and his plump 
body, long, loose arms, and gigantic feet were enveloped in 
skins, while such an atmosphere surrounded the worthy fellow 
that one could not stand it, even yards away. Spirits and 
chewing tobacco were his sole ideals, and to get them he has 
hunted out nests for Hodek in these woods for many years, 
and for but little pay. 
His skill in this, as well as in stalking game, was quite 
incredible; and it was amusing to ramble about the woods 
with him, for when he had found a nest he lay down and 
crawled on all fours, like a cat about to spring, until he got 
under the tree, and his burst of wild delight when I shot one 
of the birds which he had discovered was most remarkable. 
He could also describe the various species of eagles quite 
delightfully in his South Slavonian tongue, and gave the 
Pygmy Hagle the very expressive name of “the eagle 
with the breeches,” on account of its white thickly feathered 
legs. 
A scene which I witnessed while in his company was too 
comical to be here omitted. While creeping from one kite’s 
nest to another Tarcza suddenly made signs to me to stop 
and not to follow him, and I was sure that he had at least 
caught sight of an eagle, for he slowly crouched down and 
took his broad hat off his head; but all at once he gave a 
tremendous spring, throwing himself flat on the ground, and 
then stood up, swore loudly, and jumped about, scratching 
himself behind the ears. I thought the worthy man had gone 
mad, but when he had exhausted himself he explained that he 
had seen a Blackbird nesting on the ground, and wanted so 
much to have caught it to eat, but it had, during his bold 
manceuvre, escaped just as his hand was upon it. 
After resting a little while we turned homewards, and as 
