THIRD DAY. 33 
worthy, able fellows, chiefly fishermen by profession, who, 
from the trips which they have made in Hodek’s company, 
have attained a certain practical knowledge of ornithology. 
One of them merits a short description, as he often con- 
tributed to our amusement. J never saw such a wretched 
stunted being as this poor climber of Apatin ; and when one 
looked at him, springing merrily about the topmost branches 
of the trees, one could not help thinking that he must be 
closely related to the chimpanzee. His face beardless but for 
a few bristles, his flat coal-black hair, thin arms and legs, 
and distorted figure, which was mere skin and bone, made 
him look most remarkable, and to all this was added an 
intelligence which was in the lowest stage of development 
and just verged on idiotey. His sole enjoyment was the 
perpetual smoking of a little clay pipe, and he laughed inces- 
santly, but never spoke, obeying all orders blindly ; yet we all 
liked him, for he was the cleverest climber. 
But to return to our subject. After leaving Apatin we 
ran up-stream again to the best shooting-ground. The 
passage might be called pretty, for on the left bank was a 
marshy tract intersected by arms of the river, where low 
willow-bushes reached close down to the water’s edge. On 
the boggy meadows there were a good many birds. Lap- 
wings tumbled about, Ducks rose from the pools, Grey 
Herons flew leisurely over the marshes, and we here saw the 
first Purple Herons. Marsh-Harriers were also dancing over 
the meadows, and a pretty fair number of smaller birds, such 
as Wild Pigeons, Crows, Starlings, &c., passed over our 
vessel. On the right we saw splendid “au” woods running 
down to the bank, and it was only where the numerous arms 
of the river joined the main stream that we obtained glimpses 
into these dark green labyrinths. 
A good many Kites were flying about over the woods ; 
we often saw four or five together, all merrily going through 
D 
