12 FIFTEEN DAYS ON THE DANUBE. 



knew Adony, and even the Captain did not seem to be 

 quite clear about it ; but as for some time past we had seen 

 more and more herons and cormorants flying up and 

 down stream, we knew that the colony could not be much 

 further off. On nearing the island, we observed herons on 

 the tops of the trees, while some coming from a distance were 

 disappearing among the dense foliage. We also saw crows 

 wheeling about, and were greeted by the noisy chattering of 

 many birds, and therefore knew that we were near a great 

 breeding-place, but were not quite sure whether it was 

 Adony ; so the only thing to do was to land, for the keepers, 

 attracted by the shots, would certainly be kind enough to 

 inform us where we were. 



We therefore gave the order "Let go the anchor!" for 

 things were conducted with military precision on board the 

 peaceful steamer of the Danube Steam Navigation Company. 

 The boats were then cleared away, and in a few minutes we 

 were clambering up the crumbling bank. 



The first nest was close to the river-side, about halfway up 

 a tree, and from it protruded the forked tail of a Black Kite. 

 We had already marked this nest from the steamer, but 

 before we could reach it its occupant had vanished ; for the 

 kite had observed our faultless naval manoauvres with 

 evident interest, and hardly had we set foot on shore when 

 it saved itself from the too-intrusive strangers by flight. 



We now separated in various directions, each of us having 

 his gun loaded, and bent on shooting as many interesting 

 birds as he could. 



A few paces from the bank stood a large old oak, with 

 a Grey Heron's nest on its topmost branches. I crept up, 

 and a few gentle taps on the trunk of the tree frightened out a 

 fine heron, which flew away with quickly-flapping wings. A 

 shot brought it to the ground, and at this, the first signal, 

 the whole wood became alive : Grey Herons swung them- 



