FOURTEENTH DAY. 221 



under weigh, and we set off on our return journey, which was 

 to be performed without a break. 



We remained on deck, for we could not tear ourselves away 

 from the sight of the splendid woods in which we had spent 

 such pleasant and highly interesting hours. All the well- 

 known spots were quickly passed, and we saw the beautiful 

 pictures changing like shifting scenes, while the beauty of the 

 day had also enticed the birds from their retreats, and we 

 were able to make many interesting observations. 



"We soon reached Apatin, where we had to make a little halt, 

 as Hodek and his men were going to land. The ' Vienna ' was 

 also cast loose from the steamer, as the enterprising naturalist 

 and his crew were about ta engage in a fresh expedition and 

 were going back in her the same day, first to Kovil, thence 

 up the Theiss, and then further down the Danube. The 

 younger Hodek, however, travelled back with us to take 

 our spoils to his workshop in Vienna. Both the Hodeks, 

 father and son, as well as their men, had done us much skilful 

 service throughout the expedition; and the number of large 

 birds which they had often skinned in a very short time was 

 quite astonishing. 



While the steamer was lying at the Apatin pier we were 

 all sitting on deck observing the neighbourhood, when some 

 Hooded Crows came flying round the vessel on the outlook 

 for kitchen-scraps. One of them ventured particularly near, 

 and I shot it, whereupon a miller's lad, who was proceeding 

 to his floating mill in a boat, carried it off as a remembrance, 

 without leave or licence. This was the last bird we killed. 



After a stay of about ten minutes we again got under weigh 

 and now ran rapidly through all these splendid districts. 



At Mohacs, where the character of the scenery becomes 

 monotonous, we set ourselves the task of taking the last 

 measurements and of getting into order the note-books which 



