TWELFTH DAY. 193 
springless carts and the deep ruts, we managed to get some 
very hard knocks. 
We were soon out into the “ puszta,” and could already see 
in the distance the outlines of the large wood which was to 
be our shooting-ground of to-day. Turtle-Doves were sitting 
on the trees close to the road, and I also shot from the cart a 
Roller, which was sulkily puffing out its bedraggled plumage. 
Crows, Magpies, and smaller birds were flying about the 
fields, and the nearer we got to the wood the more the birds 
of prey, which were out foraging, showed themselves. A 
splendid Imperial Eagle sailed along with its majestic flight, 
and another, which was sitting upright on an acacia tree by 
the roadside, singularly enough allowed the leading cart to 
come close up to it, and if that vehicle had not halted we 
should certainly have got a shot. 
After an hour’s drive we reached the beginning of the 
woods, the road running along the southern fringe of this 
extensive forest, and only separated from it by a few fields of 
Indian corn. 
Hodek, who was in the first cart, now stopped and pointed 
out an Imperial Eagle’s nest at the edge of the wood, a few 
hundred yards away; so I quickly jumped out, took my 
gun and cartridge-bag, and began to approach the dwelling 
of this great bird of prey, while my brother-in-law went on 
to another Imperial Hagle’s nest, which was waiting for him 
more towards the interior of the forest. 
A few minutes brought me quite close to the nest, and then 
a bustle took place inside it, and a magnificent Imperial 
Eagle darted out, covered by the stem of the tree; but I did 
not wish to fire a doubtful shot at the noble bird, and pre- 
ferred to wait for its return. I therefore concealed myself 
in an ambush which was rapidly put together under a thick 
hawthorn, and sat down in the wet grass wrapped in my 
Alpine cloak. This was a very damp amusement, for the 
Oo 
