184 FIFTEEN DAYS ON THE DANUBE. 



vast monotony of their lonely sand-flats being only broken by 

 high draw-wells and scattered troops of horses. Behind us 

 were the gay gables and the thatched roofs of Futak, with 

 the luxuriantly green woods of the riverside both above and 

 below it, while in the distance the whole range of the 

 Fruska-Gora with its many heights and summits rose in 

 such solemn grandeur that it was long before I could turn 

 away my eyes from those splendid mountains ; for when 

 gazing on their dark woods the memories of delightful days 

 of sport floated past me like dreams, and awakened within 

 me a feeling that was somewhat akin to home sickness. 



Still the picture of the "puszta" which now unrolled 

 itself before us was also beautiful and singularly imposing ; 

 and the lowering grey sky, the heavy thunder-clouds slowly 

 piling themselves up, and the oppressive sultriness of the air 

 all combined to give the scene a true melancholy Hungarian 

 character. 



Lapwings and Larks were uttering their cries as they flew 

 over the plains ; and round a solitary well a whole flock of 

 thirsty Storks were standing with open bills. 



Never having killed a White Stork, I resolved to bag one 

 of these poor fellows ; and as there was a very fine specimen 

 standing just on the top of the well, I waited till the carriage 

 got close up, and then fired, the stork falling dead ; while 

 all the comrades of the unlucky victim rose in affright and 

 circled round us at a great height before gradually dropping 

 down to the village. 



We now struck eastwards and soon reached a little wood, 

 where a keeper who knew of some nests was awaiting us. 



Though there are some unimportant " auen " close to the 

 river and on the islands formed by its arms, the few large 

 and small patches of wood between these " auen " and the 

 plains are true inland woods, chiefly composed of oaks, with 

 a thick undergrowth. 



