NINTH DAY. 153 
take a turn round the edge of the wood close behind me, and 
then settle on the top of an oak a little way off. For some 
minutes it cautiously examined the whole locality, but luckily 
did not discover my new ambush. Then it flew quickly to 
the nest, and for a moment remained hovering like a hawk 
just above me, that it might make a close inspection of my 
former hiding-place. I fired, and the majestic bird fell to 
the ground, and hopped down the slope with a broken wing, 
but not body-hit. I followed it as hard as I could, and the 
chase brought me to the bottom of the low hill, the eagle 
thus sparing me the trouble of dragging it down the long 
slope. There I gave it a finishing shot, and with my booty 
on my back hurried off towards the aforesaid shooting-lodge. 
From the place where they were standing, Count Chotek 
and the jager had been perfectly able to follow the whole 
affair with the glass, and on seeing its fortunate termination 
had come quickly up with the traps. 
It proved to be a large female Imperial Eagle in fine 
plumage, with the yellowish head, black-brown breast, whitish 
neck, pointed tail, powerful claws, and short hooked beak 
which are the principal characteristics of this bird (the nearest 
relative of the “Stein” Eagle), whose true range is the 
Eastern countries of Europe. 
Opposite the eagle’s nest was a steep stony hillside covered 
with pastures, and crowned by a few vineyards and scattered 
fruit-trees. Behind this hill my jiger had seen the male 
eagle settle on a distant tree, so I now climbed up its 
abrupt and slippery slope as fast as I could; but on reaching 
the ridge I failed in my stalk, for the eagle saw me too soon 
and sought safety in flight. Still, although this very tiring 
climb turned out unlucky, I did not much regret having 
undertaken it, for from the top of the hill there was a splendid 
and distant view of the great treeless plains of Slavonia and 
of the mountains which rise behind them. 
