Bird Life on the Farne Islands 35 



than the common species. The young of both kinds have 

 the dorsal plumage mottled and barred with buff ; the bill 

 yellow, with a dark tip, the legs and feet at first yellow, 

 then orange brown, finally red. Nests on the Brownsman 

 and the Wide Opens. The eggs are in such numbers that 

 great care has to be exercised to avoid treading on them. 

 It is practically impossible to distinguish the eggs of this 

 species from its relative, the common tern, except by 

 seeing the birds. 



The Eider Duck (Somateria mollissima) . — Mr. Fortune 

 said the numbers of this species nesting on the Fames had 

 wonderfully increased during the last few years, which 

 increase was undoubtedly due to the protection it received 

 during the breeding season, and estimated the number 

 nesting on the Fames in 1908 as nearly three hundred 

 pairs. When sitting, the female bird will often allow a 

 very near approach, and can sometimes be stroked upon 

 the nest. The down of this species is grey in colour, and 

 highly valued for quilts and coverlets, about if lb. being 

 required to make a coverlet for one bed. Unbleached 

 down usually fetches from 12s. to 15s. per lb. The eider 

 breeds most commonly on the Brownsman, and also nests 

 on the Wide Opens. The drakes during the breeding 

 season spend all then time out at sea, and do not assist 

 in incubation. The nests are principally composed of sea- 

 weed, and are lined with down plucked from the bird's 

 breast. The eggs are four in number, and often more, 

 of an olive green colour. The female bird on leaving the 

 nest covers the eggs with down. This covering not only 

 keeps the eggs warm but protects them fiom the plying 

 gaze of the lesser black-backed gulls, who prey upon the 

 eggs of this and other species whenever the opportunity 

 occurs. When suddenly disturbed from the nest, the 

 duck has a nasty habit of fouling it, and, as most ornitho- 

 logists know, the stench thus caused is very powerful 

 and disagreeable. Eiders will swallow large mussels, 

 shells and all, as much as 2I inches in length. 



The Puffin (Fratercula arctica) .— This species usually 

 arrives on the Fames about April 15, leaving about Sep- 

 tember 5, being a summer migrant. The puffin swarms 



