224 LOUGH DERG. 



the middle of it, disappearing in a clump of 

 rocks and myrica bushes. 



" There is the nest, you may be sure," 

 said he. " Many a bird's-nest have I taken 

 in my time, but never an eagle's nest yet." 



There was but little temptation to continue 

 casting out the lines over still water, and all 

 were excited at the thoughts of this new 

 object of pursuit; the boat, therefore, was 

 soon secured to the shore, and all parties dis- 

 persed about the island in the search. 



It so happened, that the Parson had 

 marked the very clump in which the bird 

 had pitched, and had taken the bearings 

 accurately. Guiding his course by these, he 

 scrambled over huge, loose, mossy stones, so 

 large, so irregular, and so unconnected with 

 each other, that it seemed as if the whole 

 island was a mere stone-heap which the 

 giants had left. Scrambling on all -fours 

 over one of them, he with some difficulty 

 raised his head beyond its edge, and found 

 himself within arm's length, not only of the 

 nest, but of the bird, which rose suddenly 

 with a shrill, startled cry, and, knocking off 

 his hat in her passage, dashed off, clanging 

 and screaming, to the westward, discovering, 



