pound. It is collected from the nests, which
the ducks line, or rather form, with it, to
afford their youtig a warmer and more con-
genial situation, stripping for the purpose
their own breasts of a covering which nature
has kindly given at this season. When
taken away, the old bird replaces it, and,
according to Mr. Pennant, this is occasionally
done as often as three times, the drake supplying
the deficiency in case the down of
the duck is completely exhausted. Cats and
dogs are, at this season of the year, all banished
from the island, so that nothing may
disturb these birds; It one year happened that
a fox got over upon the ice, and caused great
alarm: it was long before he was taken,
which was at last, however, though with
difficulty, effected, by bringing another fox
to the island, and fastening it by a string
near the haunt of the former, by which
means he was allured within shot of the
hunter. Such an island as Vidoe is well
bestowed on the present owner, by the
Danish government, for the services done
to his country, during the fifty years that he
was in office. It is considered worth one
hundred dollars (twenty pounds) a-year, in
addition to which, the full pension of fifteen
hundred dollars is continued to him, as if he
were still actual governor; nor is it as a magistrate
alone that this gentleman is deserving
of the greatest praise, but also as a man
of science. His researches into the history
of his own country, and his valuable communications
on various subjects relating to it,
which have been sent to Copenhagen, have
gained him many honorary marks of distinction
from different learned societies, and
those, not merely of Denmark and Norway,
but also of other nations. It has seldom, if
ever, fallen to my lot to see, even in those
places which are most distinguished for the
cultivation of science, so large a collection of
diplomas and honorary medals, as in this remote
corner of one of the most remote countries
of Europe; I met with no plants upon
the island, that I had not seen in the neighborhood
of Reikevig, except Erigeron alpi-
num, which, however, was not in flower. We
had scarcely reached the extremity of our
walk, when a servant carne to announce that
dinner was on the table : consequently, we
were obliged to return, though rather against
our inclinations; for the earliness of the hour,
VOL. i . f