FIFTH DAY. 87 



it were unhappily fruitless. A pair of Black Kites, still busy 

 nest-building, were cruising about over the trees, the songs of 

 the Orioles and the cooing of the Turtle-Doves resounded on 

 every side, and the choicest of our feathered songsters were 

 tuning their lovely pipes among the bushes. 



A fortunate wind had driven the storm southwards ; again 

 the deep blue sky shone overhead, and if the mosquitoes had 

 not been so savage and the heat so oppressive we should have 

 heartily enjoyed this beautiful afternoon. While thus occupied 

 in observing and in searching for nests, Brehm and I had 

 penetrated a long way into the wood, when a glance at the 

 time compelled us to hurry back, and, streaming with perspira- 

 tion, we reached the ambush where Leopold was still waiting 

 for the unaccommodating Osprey.' Accompanied by him, 

 we continued our homeward route, taking, however, this 

 opportunity of visiting a neighbouring Black Stork's nest, 

 where I missed the bird as it flew off. 



A few hundred yards further on we saw six or seven of these 

 splendid waders, standing motionless on the lower branches 

 of some oaks at the edge of a high wood opposite a young 

 plantation. I imagine that these were birds which had been 

 scared from their nests, and had chanced to meet at this favour- 

 able point of outlook, where they were now waiting to see what 

 was going to happen. We crept cautiously up. The storks 

 were standing like leaden soldiers, near each other, and just at 

 the same height from the ground. My brother-in-law put up 

 his rifle, and, after a long careful aim, fired, and the bullet strik- 

 ing one of the long-legged fellows in the side, brought him to 

 the ground. I was also ready to shoot, and hardly had Leopold 

 achieved his masterly shot when I let drive both barrels at 

 the birds as they flapped away, and a hard-hit stork separated 

 itself from its comrades, and, taking a great circular sweep, 

 dropped in the high wood. We hurried off towards the 

 place where we had lost sight of it, and were lucky enough 



