TWELFTH DAY. 203 



really belonged to the human species or was not still closely 

 related to our cousins the apes. His face, framed by hair 

 dripping with grease, was a perfect caricature, and his plump 

 body, long, loose arms, and gigantic feet were enveloped in 

 skins, while such an atmosphere surrounded the worthy fellow 

 that one could not stand it, even yards away. Spirits and 

 chewing tobacco were his sole ideals, and to get them he has 

 hunted out nests for Hodek in these woods for many years, 

 and for but little pay. 



His skill in this, as well as in stalking game, was quite 

 incredible; and it was amusing to ramble about the woods 

 with him, for when he had found a nest he lay down and 

 crawled on all fours, like a cat about to spring, until he got 

 under the tree, and his burst of wild delight when I shot one 

 of the birds which he had discovered was most remarkable. 

 He could also describe the various species of eagles quite 

 delightfully in his South Slavonian tongue, and gave the 

 Pygmy Eagle the very expressive name of " the eagle - 

 with the breeches," on account of its white thickly feathered 



A scene which I witnessed while in his company was too 

 comical to be here omitted. While creeping from one kite's 

 nest to another Tarcza suddenly made signs to me to stop 

 and not to follow him, and I was sure that he had at least 

 caught sight of an eagle, for he slowly crouched down and 

 took his broad hat off his head; but all at once he gave a 

 tremendous spring, throwing himself flat on the ground, and 

 then stood up, swore loudly, and jumped about, scratching 

 himself behind the ears. I thought the worthy man had gone 

 mad, but when he had exhausted himself he explained that he 

 had seen a Blackbird nesting on the ground, and wanted so 

 much to have caught it to eat, but it had, during his bold 

 manoeuvre, escaped just as his hand was upon it. 



After resting a little while we turned homewards, and as 



