LOUGH DERG. 225 



in a rude nest of dry sticks, four dirty white 

 eggs, about the size and shape of a bantam's, 

 only rounder and plumper. 



The result of a council of war held upon 

 them was, that they should be subjected to 

 the water-test, — it being a fact well known 

 among birds'-nesters, that an egg that has 

 been sat upon, even for a day, will swim, 

 turning one of its ends uppermost, whereas, 

 the fresh egg sinks to the bottom, and lies 

 on its side. The eggs, in this instance, did 

 not stand the test ; and as they were unfit 

 for preservation, they were carefully replaced 

 in the nest, and the eagle was permitted 

 to hatch them out, — the Parson taking, as 

 spolia opima, one of them, which happened 

 to be addled. 



The party then adjourned to a neighbour- 

 ing island for their dinner, — a measure 

 adopted not less for their own comfort, than 

 for that of the disconsolate eagle. 



Thanks to the Captain's successful fo- 

 raging, the dinner was plentiful, though after 

 all it was but an extempore affair, and was 

 soon dispatched ; and the water offering no 

 very great temptation, the party lounged 

 about the island, whiling away the afternoon 



Q 



