TWELFTH DAY. 205 



ralist, in the strict sense of the word, for he had found the nest 

 of a Penduline Tit in the midst of an almost impenetrable 

 submerged thicket, where this truly artistic construction was 

 hanging from the top of a willow-bush. 



It was with great difficulty that he had forced his " csikel " 

 up to the place, and then, instead of allowing himself to be 

 led away by a hankering after the shooting of wild-fowl or 

 birds of prey, he had resolved to spend some hours at the 

 nest of these Tits, which he had never before seen in a wild 

 state. To-day he only studied their habits and customs, and 

 did not shoot these rare birds for our collection until the 

 morrow. 



Dinner was now quickly despatched, and after the measure- 

 ments and the notes were jotted down, perfect quiet soon 

 prevailed on board the steamer. 



