SIXTH DAY. 95 



resemble the island of Adony and certain parts of the Lower 

 Austrian " auen." 



A narrow muddy path, which ran through high willow 

 woods and low copses, led me at first to a forest-glade. Some 

 small arms of the river wound about through the island, and 

 there were still a few pools of water (the last vestiges of the 

 spring inundations); but most of the channels and flooded 

 places were provided with well-built boats, a plain proof that 

 we were further north and nearer human habitations. 



This glade ran in a long unbroken stretch right through 

 the island up to the so-called Bega Canal, on both sides of 

 which rose high woods, chiefly consisting of willows and silver 

 poplars, while a little nursery-garden, and the woodsmen who 

 were at work in various places, showed that they are scien- 

 tifically handled by the staff of foresters. 



We walked quickly across the glade in a slanting direction, 

 and before entering the wood on our right the resident 

 forester, a very skilful woodsman, who had formerly served 

 many years on the Archducal estates in Silesia, begged me to 

 leave Hodek's climber and my jager behind ; so, accompanied 

 by him alone, I went along a narrow footpath into the wood, 

 which was covered with thick undergrowth, and in about ten 

 minutes the forester announced that we were close to the 

 eyrie of the Sea-Eagle. 



The huge nest was constructed of large branches and 

 placed on a tall black poplar, which stood in the middle of a 

 little open, only surrounded by willows. It was raining 

 harder than ever, so that I was in hopes the eagle would 

 be on the nest protecting its young ones from the wet. I 

 therefore chose a good place where the branches were open, 

 and posted myself ready to shoot. 



Thb eagle was so remarkably tame that neither repeated 

 blows with the hunting-knife on the tree nor even loud 

 shouts drove it from its retreat ; so the forester came back, 



