396 SKETCHES OF SPORT IN HUNGARY. 



A quarter of an hour later the renewed croaking of the 

 Ravens notified the proximity of a large bird of prey, and I 

 soon heard the rush of powerful pinions and the noise made 

 hy an eagle as it settled heavily on one of the neighbouring 

 trees; so I quietly took up my gun and cocked it. 



More disturbance among the branches and a couple of dull 

 thuds warned me that there must be two big birds near the 

 exposed carcass; and taking a cautious look through a natural 

 loophole, I saw to my delight a great Sea-Eagle, and a few 

 paces further off an extremely large Vulture. Both were 

 trying to get at the dainty meal ; but no sooner did one of 

 them make a move towards it, than the other sprang in front 

 of him and checked his further advance. 



It was comical to see the enormous Vulture hopping up 

 and down with its bare bluish turkey-like neck, and its 

 plumage ruffled and puffed out with rage ; while the Sea- 

 Eagle, on the contrary, drew in its feathers close to its body, 

 and bending its head backwards uttered its angry " glik, 

 glik " with widely opened beak. 



Taking a rapid survey of the situation, I fired at the vulture, 

 and the distinctly audible thud of the bullet told me that I 

 had hit it, and when the smoke cleared away the bird was 

 flapping its huge wings in its last convulsions. 



On jumping out of my ambush to hide it, I saw two other 

 vultures and the eagle which had been scared by the shot 

 soaring in the pure ether, so I dragged the exceptionally 

 large and heavy bird into my retreat and awaited further 

 visits. 



Another half-hour went by before the anxious croaks of 

 the Ravens, who had meanwhile returned, indicated the 

 approach of a bird of prey; and in a few moments I saw an 

 eagle pitch upon a beech tree, where it rested quietly for 

 several minutes and then dropped deliberately from the branch, 

 frightening away the Ravens. 



