2 FIFTEEN DAYS ON THE DANUBE. 



Whenever of late years Hodek returned from his travels 

 and told me of his labours and wonderful successes, his 

 tale sounded in my ears like a siren's song, and I felt 

 irresistibly drawn towards these dark forests with their 

 oaks centuries old and their rich fauna pent within these 

 last refuges by the obliterating civilization of mankind. For 

 the past two years I had intended to visit them myself, 

 but had always lacked time and opportunity; for, near 

 as they are to the heart of Central Europe, a prolonged 

 excursion to these districts involves many difficulties. One 

 may either run quickly down to them in a fast steamer 

 or reach certain points by rail; but in either case there 

 remain great obstacles to be overcome before one can 

 penetrate into the best sporting . localities. In order to 

 really enjoy the journey, and accomplish true scientific 

 work, one must fit out a regular expedition ; and this is 

 the main reason why these tracts have been so little explored 

 by sportsmen and naturalists. For while most of the 

 scientific Societies, Clubs, Unions, or whatever they are 

 called, equip great expeditions and send them to other 

 quarters of the world whenever they have the means to do 

 so, parts of our own country near at hand are still in many 

 respects shrouded in a veil of mystery. 



At last the long -sought opportunity presented itself. 

 Brehm came to Vienna at the end of March, and I think 

 there is no necessity for describing at greater length the 

 man who was the most important personage of our party. 

 The object of his visit was to deliver some lectures, and 

 at the same time to devote himself with all his energy 

 to the solution of the question whether the " Stein " * and 

 Golden Eagles were to be considered separate species or 

 not. I had furnished him with as much material for this 



* A form of the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) mot recognized by 

 English ornithologists. 



