204 FIFTEEN DAYS ON THE DANUBE. 



we passed by a Kite's nest I brought down the bird as it flew 

 over our heads. Our path now led us close to the Peregrine's 

 nest, and we sent Hodek's climber up the not very high oak 

 to take it, the pair of falcons meanwhile flying about, scream- 

 ing loudly, but unfortunately always keeping so far away that 

 I could not get a certain shot. 



In a few moments the four young ones were in our hands; 

 they were very small, and still covered with the first woolly 

 down, so we packed them up in a bag as best we could, and 

 then continued our walk through the thick oak woods, which 

 smelt very sweet after the warm spring rain. 



The sun had already set, and heavy storm-clouds were once 

 more forming in dense rounded masses, while as night came 

 on, and it was getting dark, the rain again began; so we 

 hastened to our carts, which were standing by the edge of the 

 wood quite close to Kovil, and drove on as fast as possible 

 to the spot outside the village where our steamer was 

 anchored. 



The water was much swollen by the many heavy storms of 

 rain, so the rather shaky planks which connected our floating 

 abode with the dry land had to be advanced still further into 

 the flooded meadow; and I must confess to feeling a certain 

 pleasurable sensation on stepping into the warm comfortable 

 cabin, where a good hot dinner was awaiting us, after a long 

 fatiguing day, during which we had been wet to the skin 

 several times. 



The two Savants had spent the day in the large swamp and 

 inundated woods close to the village, and had bagged a 

 Bittern, a Purple Heron, a Night-Heron, three Terns, and a 

 great Sedge- Warbler, while some interesting observations on 

 the migration of the Terns and Glossy Ibises had recompensed 

 them for the many difficulties and exertions attendant on an 

 exploration of these flooded districts. 



Brehm had also to-day proved himself a thorough natu- 



