194 BIRD-HUNTING 



In another direction, in a belt of small acacias, we 

 found two nests of the Red-footed Falcon (Falco 

 vespertinus), one of which contained young birds, 

 and the other four eggs. In the same belt was the 

 empty nest of a Lesser Grey Shrike, the owner of 

 which anxiously watched our movements until we 

 were at a safe distance. 



Proceeding alone, under the guidance of a small 

 boy who declared his knowledge of a Golden Oriole's 

 nest, I was surprised to find it on a very small 

 and slender acacia, at a height of about ten feet 

 from the ground. So slender was this tree, that it 

 could not support the weight of the boy, whom I 

 sent up for the eggs, and I had to call him down 

 again. I then cut down the tree with my knife, 

 but after all, to my regret, the nest was empty. It 

 was the first I had seen outside of a museum, and 

 was a beautiful specimen of bird architecture. The 

 hanging cradle, suspended between the fork of a 

 branch, was supported by broad strips of flexible 

 bark, and was composed to a great extent of pieces 

 of white paper. 



This was the last nest I saw in Hungary, for the 

 lateness of the date (June 13) made it imperative 

 for me to hurry on to Roumania before I lost the 

 best of the season there. The fact was that my 

 plan of campaign was much too comprehensive 

 and ambitious. To work countries so far distant 



