THIRTEENTH DAY. 213 



down between the trees, heavily laden with materials for giving 

 the finishing touches to its nest, which it visited several times, 

 always vanishing again in the same direction. 



Hodek, who had accompanied me, had also hidden himself, 

 and was sitting watching a few hundred yards off. Close to 

 him a Blackbird with white wings was hopping about the 

 bushes ; and on seeing this rare freak of Nature he hastened 

 to fetch me, but when we got to the place there was no Black- 

 bird to be found. 



The time was passing quickly, and a glance at my watch 

 showed me that I should have to return; so after strolling 

 through the whole of this part of the wood, I went back with 

 Hodek and the excellent Tarcza to the broad ride, where the 

 carts were waiting, and, starting on our homeward drive, soon 

 reached the spot at the edge of the forest where I had killed 

 the Imperial Eagle at the commencement of our yesterday's 

 ramblings. 



Having still half an hour to spare, I went under the tree 

 and waited to see whether a lucky chance might not bring the 

 male bird within reach of my gun ; but as the eagle very 

 soon appeared and swept round our ambush in wide circles, it 

 seemed useless to stay any longer, so I sent the climber up to 

 the nest, and to my great astonishment he found it was quite 

 empty, the eggs having most probably been carried off by 

 some other bird of prey or by the thievish Hooded Crows, 

 after the female had been shot. 



I now quickly returned to the cart, where I found my 

 brother-in-law, who had been well repaid for his great perse- 

 verance, for he had brought back with him a magnificent male 

 Imperial Eagle. 



Continuing our homeward route together, we rattled over 

 the field-roads at a good pace, and I had only a cursory 

 opportunity of observing the numerous birds which had been 

 enticed out of the woods by the splendid sunny afternoon 



