5-"54 THE lEATllKllEI) IKIKKS. 



while the bird is away feeding; and this operation is repeated a seeoiid, and necasionally 

 a third time. On her return, the bird makes up the deficiency thus created by stripping- 

 her own breast ; and when her stock is exhausted, she calls on her mate to add his 

 portion, which will bear no comparison with the sacrifice she has made. 



Tlic same sort of spoliation is practised with regard to the eggs, care being taken that 

 1 hroe or four are left ; for should the bird on her return find the nest empty, she will 

 desert it, and not breed again the same season. About six, considerably larger than 

 tliose of tame duck.s, and of a light-green colour, are found in each nest. The average 

 quantity of down obtained from these nests is half a pound, so mixed, however, with 

 grass and foreign matter, that forty pounds in tliat state are reduced to fifteen after it 

 has been thoroughl3' cleansed. Vidoe and Engoe produce, ^Ir. Dillon supposes, about 

 three hundred pounds weight j'early, wliich would make the number of ducks that come 

 to those two places not far short often thousand annually. 



