NINTH DAY. 153 



take a turn round the edge of the wood close behind me, and 

 then settle on the top of an oak a little way off. For some 

 minutes it cautiously examined the whole locality, but luckily 

 did not discover my new ambush. Then it flew quickly to 

 the nest, and for a moment remained hovering like a hawk 

 just above me, that it might make a close inspection of my 

 former hiding-place. I fired, and the majestic bird fell to 

 the ground, and hopped down the slope with a broken wing, 

 but not body-hit. I followed it as hard as I could, and the 

 chase brought me to the bottom of the low hill, the eagle 

 thus sparing me the trouble of dragging it down the long 

 slope. There I gave it a finishing shot, and with my booty 

 on my back hurried off towards the aforesaid shooting-lodge. 

 From the place where they were standing, Count Chotek 

 and the jager had been perfectly* able to follow the whole 

 affair with the glass, and on seeing its fortunate termination 

 had come quickly up with the traps. 



It proved to be a large female Imperial Eagle in fine 

 plumage, with the yellowish head, black-brown breast, whitish 

 neck, pointed tail, powerful claws, and short hooked beak 

 which are the principal characteristics of this bird (the nearest 

 relative of the " Stein " Eagle), whose true range is the 

 Eastern countries of Europe* 



Opposite the eagle's nest was a steep stony hillside covered 

 with pastures, and crowned by a few vineyards and scattered 

 fruit-trees. Behind this hill my jager had seen the male 

 eagle settle on a distant tree, so I now climbed up its 

 abrupt and slippery slope as fast as I could ; but on reaching 

 the ridge I failed in my stalk, for the eagle saw me too soon 

 and sought safety in flight. Still, although this very tiring 

 climb turned out unlucky, I did not much regret having 

 undertaken it, for from the top of the hill there was a splendid 

 and distant view of the great treeless plains of Slavonia and 

 of the mountains which rise behind them. 



