SKETCHES OF SPORT IN HUNGARY. 393 



the ever beautiful effects with which nature has dowered 

 the east. 



Splendid it is indeed when the low heavy clouds are robed 

 in crimson as the sun sinks behind the hills in ablaze of gold, 

 and the purple of the twilight fades into the deep blue of 

 night, which already broods mysteriously over the broad 

 pusztas, and a thin veil of mist settles on the gliding waters 

 of the great river ! 



Flocks of hundreds upon hundreds of crows were flying 

 from the plain to their roosting-places, long strings of geese 

 with plaintive cries were hastening southwards in their usual 

 V-shaped formation, and, just as it was getting dark, we 

 reached Mohacs, where we stopped for the night, resuming 

 our journey at dawn. 



When I awoke day had already broken, so I hurried on 

 deck to look at the districts which I knew so well. It was a 

 sharp but fine morning, a thin mist was floating over the 

 water, and the sun was making vain attempts to warm this 

 poor earth. With Pausinger for my companion I gazed upon 

 the beautiful scenes around me, and as we were passing the 

 already described marsh of Hullo, with its gigantic reed-beds 

 swaying to and fro in the wind like yellow waves, we saw a 

 fine picture of bird-life. A huge Eagle was sitting on the 

 summit of an old dead tree which rose from the reeds, and 

 another was circling high above us on the outlook for plunder. 

 I fired a pistol, and all at once the whole of the great swamp 

 became alive with flocks of birds flying hither and thither 

 over the reeds. 



On getting beyond the bend at the junction of the Drave 

 the high steep banks of the Slavonian side appeared, and 

 Ospreys, an Imperial Eagle, and huge imposing Vultures gave 

 us opportunities for making some ornithological observations. 



At noon we reached Cerevic, and were all heartily glad 

 to see this village again with its two churches and its shining 



