NEIGHBOURHOOD OF VIENNA. 611 



come well within shot. This individual, which was the first 

 to appear in September, has now entirely vanished, and has 

 in all probability died of some wound received on one of its 

 many wanderings. 



Since the end of September more Sea-Eagles have been seen 

 on the Danube, frequently three or four of them in a single 

 day, but often only one, while they now and then absent 

 themselves altogether for several days. Their appearance is 

 dependent on several causes, but it is the wild ducks that 

 have most to do with their movements, for from morning to 

 night the eagles hunt the large flocks up and down, and when 

 one district has been cleared out and the persecuted birds 

 have shifted down-stream their pursuers also disappear ; and 

 when, after a few days, the ducks collect again at their usual 

 haunts, their adversaries follow them up, and so it goes on 

 backwards and forwards. If, however, a frost comes, the 

 eagles are sure to be there, and generally some of those that 

 are engaged in the easier pursuit of the waterfowl ,on the 

 smaller streams also come to the Danube. 



The Sea-Eagle passes the night close to the place where it 

 has either fished or hunted during the day ; and as this shy 

 bird almost always cautiously shuns both the Eagle-Owl and 

 an exposed bait, and can only be approached at night, I 

 devoted my attention to the finding out of its sleeping- 

 quarters. 



On the Danube it never roosts among the large auen 

 that border the river, but always on the islands or " haufen " 

 as they are called. It is also very critical in the choice 

 of its quarters, and, avoiding the interior of woods, almost 

 invariably selects the edge of a clump of high trees that faces 

 either a meadow, a low copse, or a stagnant arm of the river, 

 where there is nothing to impede its flying off even during 

 the night. The spot must be sheltered from the wind, and 

 the tree high and provided with large branches. In the auen 



