4 FIFTEEN DAYS ON THE DANUBE. 



to form a rapid idea of the birds of this part of the country, 

 confirmed our determination of proceeding down the river 

 towards the south. 



Spring had already come in its full glory : the migratory 

 birds had all arrived at their old nesting-places, and the most 

 charming and attractive season for the ornithologist was just . 

 beginning. 



The preliminaries of the Expedition had now to be 

 arranged, and as a first step Hodek set off from Vienna 

 to make some preparations in the Apatin district. I then 

 requested permission to shoot from the proprietors of the 

 estates which we were about to visit ; and my uncle, the 

 Archduke Albrecht, on whose territory we intended spending 

 the first few days, kindly invited me to make use of his 

 woods, and both Count Otto Chotek and his brother, Count 

 Rudolf, did the same. 



A vessel had now to be secured, fitted with all that 

 was necessary, and sent off to wait for us at Pest ; Easter 

 Monday, the 22nd of April, being fixed as the time for our 

 departure. 



A few days before leaving, I telegraphed to my brother- 

 in-law Leopold, at Munich, to beg him to join the expe- 

 dition, and he duly arrived at Vienna on the morning of 

 the 22nd. 



I was much bent on having him with us on this trip ; for 

 being, as he was, a capital shot and a thorough sportsman 

 from top to toe, such as one now but seldom meets with, this 

 excursion was the very thing for him. We were also accom- 

 panied by Count Bombelles, another excellent sportsman. 



Eight o'clock in the evening was the hour fixed for 

 starting ; and many were the hearty wishes for good luck 

 which our more or less sporting friends shouted after us 

 as the engine snorted and whistled, and bore us off to the 

 beautiful land of Hungary. 



