This would almost seem confirmatory of the ridiculous 

 tales told of floating nests, could one be led to believe that 

 this bird, foreseeing the event, had designedly so constructed 

 its nest as to be water-proof. 



The eggs vary a good deal in size, being sometimes consi- 

 derably less than the Plate, though in their character and 

 colouring they are readily known, differing only in being a 

 shade lighter. 



