EIDER BUCKS. 



261 



it is intended to or not, serves the useful twofold 

 purpose of preventing- an undue escape of heat 

 and lessening the chances of discovery by a 

 prowling enemy. 



Young Eiders are the hardiest little birds in 

 their own element I have ever seen. They will 

 dash into a boilin£»- sea from almost any height a 



YOUNG EIDER DUCK. 



day or two after they have made their advent into 

 the world. 



One rough day we went out to try to photo- 

 graph the breakers as they tumbled in upon the 

 rocks at the northern end of the Fame. After 

 making one or two studies we walked round the 

 north-west corner of the island, and suddenly came 

 upon an Eider Duck and seven small young ones. 

 We stopped, with the intention of withdrawing, 

 but as . the old Ijird did not seem in the least 



