and sea-wood, which is collected in some quantity. Upon this rough
mattress the female spreads a bed of the finest down, plucked from
her own breast, and by no means sparingly, but, as Brunnich informs
us, heaping it up, so as to form a thick roll quite round the nest.
When she is necessitated to go in quest of food after beginning to
sit, she carefully turns this roll of down over the eggs to keep them
warm till her return. Marten says she mixes the down with moss,
but as this is not recorded by another observer, I think it is not a
little doubtful, particularly as in the localities chosen for nestling she
would find it no easy matter to procure moss. It is worthy of remark,
that though the Eider Duck lays only five or six eggs, it is not
uncommon to find more than even ten and upwards in the same nest,
occupied by two females, who live together in perfect concord.
The quantity of down in each nest is said by Von Troil to be
about half a pound, which by cleaning is reduced to a quarter; by
Pennant, who examined the Eiders' nests in the Fern Islands, off
Northumberland, it. is only estimated, when cleaned, at three quarters
of an ounce, and this was so elastic as to fill the crown of the largest
hat. The difference of quantity in these two accounts, theoretically
ascribed by the translator of Buffm to difference of climate, may
have arisen from the one being first, and the other the second or
third nest of the Mother Duck; for if the first nest be plundered of the
down, though she immediately builds a second, she cannot furnish
it with the same quantity as before, and if forced to build a third
time, having then stript her breast of all she could spare, the male
is said to furnish what is wanting, which is known as being considerably
whiter than the female's. When the nest is not robbed, it is said that
he furnishes none.
The extraordinary elasticity of the down appears from what I have
already stated of three quarters of an ounce filling a large hat; and
Pontoppidan says that two or three pounds of it, though pressed
into a ball, which may be held in the hand, upon being allowed to
expand, will fill the foot covering of a large bed. It is worthy of notice,
however, that it is only the down taken from the nests which has
this great elasticity; for what is taken from the dead birds is much
inferior, being as Pontoppidan remarks, fir from as light as what the
female plucks to form a bed for its young. It is on tins account
t i n t it is prohibited by the laws of Norway to kill the Eiders for
their down.*
The Eider Duck begins to pair in March, and to lay about the
beginning of the last week in May, that is to say, in this country.
Incubation lasts from three weeks to a month. The male bird at this
EIDER DUCK. 183
period leaves his mate, and repairs to the open sea. The young, as
soon as hatched, are led by the dam to the water, and in some
instances, it appears certain that they must be carried by her in her
bill. They gradually venture out farther and farther till able entirely
to provide for themselves. Yon Troil says that the female at first
takes them on her back a little way, and then dives, and leaves them
to ' s i n k or swim.'
In England the Eiders build only so far south as the Fern
Islands and Coquet Island. In one of the former the remains of an
old lighthouse appear to be a favourite report, and within the ruined
and deserted walls several have been accustomed to lay: the relics of
ancient buildings arc thus occasionally made use of. They seem, as
said, to prefer islands for the purpose, but also make use of hollows
in rocks on the mainland, and sand-banks along the sea-shore. Great
numbers are frequently placed close together, so that it is hardly
possible to walk along without treading on some.
With reference to what has been already stated, it seems that at first
the nest has only grass, lichens, or sea-weed, for its composition, but
when all or nearly all (be egg-- are laid, down, plucked by the female
from herself, is daily added, the quantity being then successively
increased. If the bird leaves her charge for a time, the eggs are
carefully covered over and concealed, cither with down, or grass and
leaves, according as each has been supplied.
The eggs, of a light green colour, ace usually five in number, but
not verv unfreijucntlv as manv as eight or even leu are found together,
two birds having laid in the same place. Both, it appears in that case,
sit together in an amicable manner.
Male; weight, six or seven pounds or over; length, two feet to two
feet one or two inches; bill, dull yellow, passing towards the tip into
dull green; the tooth yellowish white; iris, dark brown. Forehead
and head on the crown, velvet black, with a reflection of purple, as
far as the back of the head, continuing in a line on each side; the
remainder of the head is white, with the exception on the sides of
two light green marks. The feathers which compose this are of a fine
and silky texture, and capable of being raised so as to form a sort
of ruff. Neck in front, above white, below pale buff; below the nape
the feathers are pale green. Chin and throat, white; breast above,
white, with a tinge of brownish yellow, below black, with the exception
of one white patch above and behind the legs. Back, white.
The wings expand to the width of about three feet; greater and
lesser wing coverts, white; primaries, dull black; secondaries, dull
black; tertiaries, white ar.d elongated, drooping downwards, the tips