194 FIFTEEN DAYS ON THE DANUBE. 



rain was falling in torrents, and everything was dripping wet. 

 Still the majestic eagle was worth all the trouble. 



I had now time enough to accurately observe the nest and 

 the immediate surroundings of the place. The whole wood 

 was formed of very poor oaks, and much overgrown with low 

 bushes ; in short, it was just an inland wood such as one finds 

 in any ordinary flat district, and had no special characteristics. 

 The nest was supported by a young oak with but little foliage, 

 and I was quite astonished that an eagle should have chosen 

 such a poor tree for its dwelling, as they usually only do this 

 from sheer necessity, when there are no better to be found. 



The structure itself was adapted to the tree, as it was also 

 of no great size, and I observed that the nest of the Imperial 

 Eagle was, as a rule, small as compared with the size of the 

 bird. 



A good quarter of an hour passed by in patient waiting, 

 Orioles flew to and fro and uttered their joyous notes just 

 above the dwelling of this mighty robber, while warblers, 

 the true children of the woods, and many other small birds, 

 were singing and hopping about the bushes in full activity. 



Sometimes I saw both the eagles sweeping over the trees, 

 pursued by crows, and at last the female, which was much 

 the larger bird, flew quickly up to the tree and settled on a 

 branch, where it was pretty well concealed by the foliage. 

 I fired and, wounded by the first shot, the eagle sank 

 towards the bushes, the second barrel bringing it down to 

 the ground. 



Greatly delighted I hurried up to my splendid booty, which 

 Hodek at once carried off to the cart, while I remained in 

 my ambush to await the coming of the male ; but though I 

 stayed there patiently for half an hour, and sometimes plainly 

 saw the stately bird cruising in the distance, it never came 

 within shot. 



At last I could stand it no longer, and left the place, it 



