8 FIFTEEN DAYS ON THE DANUBE. 



were the Captain (an exceedingly skilful officer of the 

 Merchant Navy, to whom we all owe our warmest thanks), 

 his Lieutenant and crew, also the chef and his assistants. 



To complete the list of our travelling-party, I must 

 mention three individuals who have for long done me ex- 

 cellent service on my numerous shooting expeditions. The 

 first was " Blak," my jet-black pointer, though he really does 

 not at all deserve this title, as it is only on the rarest occa- 

 sions that he points either partridges or hares ; but he is, on 

 the other hand, a very good retriever, pursues and catches 

 all wounded game from deer down to rabbits, is very quick 

 after vermin, shows great attachment and cleverness, and, 

 from constant intercourse with mankind, is, as far as his 

 canine intelligence permits, refined and ennobled to quite an 

 extraordinary degree. In consequence of the great attention 

 he bestows on the entire bird-world, and from his lively 

 participation in all ornithological pursuits, Brehm always 

 called my old Blak " the ornithological dog," and this name 

 stuck to him during the whole journey. 



The second of the band was my red setter, " Castor," a very 

 good water-dog, of whom there is not much to be said, for he 

 is fonder of sleep and good feeding than of over-exerting 

 himself in noble hunting feats. 



My perfectly tame Eagle-Owl, the third of this trio, was 

 a very remarkable domestic creature, and a hero in his 

 way, for over him I have already shot many eagles, whose 

 bold attacks he has proudly awaited with perfect courage. 

 This Owl was an ornament to the vessel, and devoured the 

 bodies of many of the skinned birds, while the quiet and 

 cnange of air did him a great deal of good ; but that 

 was all, for we never had an opportunity of using him in 

 shooting. 



Returning to our men, I ought to mention how strange a 

 medley of people from the most different countries there 



