TWELFTH DAY. 201 



passing the outermost houses of Kovil, soon reached the 

 northern fringe of the great Sacer forest. Here, at Hodek's 

 desire, I left the cart, while Leopold drove on towards the 

 interior of the woods to visit an Imperial Eagle's nest. 



Walking through a little hollow I struck into a path that 

 in a few minutes brought me into these woods, which much 

 resemble those of Kovil in their main characteristics, but 

 have not such a heavy undergrowth or such impenetrable 

 copses. 



The first nest which I encountered was a Pygmy Eagle's; 

 but unluckily the handsome light-coloured bird was sitting 

 on a branch near its dwelling and flew off as we approached, 

 and though hit by the shot which I fired, it skimmed 

 away close to the ground and we failed to find it. The rain 

 was falling in torrents and pattering noisily on the leaves as 

 I penetrated deeper into the wood, and the sodden state of 

 the deep loamy soil much increased the difficulties of walking 

 during this wet and fatiguing excursion. 



There are, in the depths of this Sacer forest, some most 

 lovely picturesque spots, where low oak woods adorned with 

 a few tall old trees, twisted into the strangest forms, alternate 

 with flowery little glades, through which run the rills which 

 feed the marshes. Invigorated by these warm summery rains 

 all was fresh and blooming in the most luxuriant way, and 

 the many-noted songs of the Nightingales and other warblers 

 enlivened the wood, while the rain gradually ceased, the 

 clouds broke up, and it looked as if we were going to have a 

 fine evening. 



My way led me past a Pygmy Eagle's nest still in course 

 of construction, then followed a Goshawk's, where this usually 

 shy bird could only be frightened out of its dwelling by re- 

 peated blows on the trunk of the tree, but, flying off at last, 

 fell to my shot. 



At the edge of a very charmingly situated glade stood the 



