■ • COMMON EIDER. : 245 



above the sea. It is a bulky, well-made structure, com- 

 posed of coarse grass, dry sea-weed, heather, and bits of 

 dead vegetation, lined profusely with down and a few 

 curly feathers from the body of the female, gradually 

 accumulated as the eggs are laid. Numbers of nests 

 may be found close together, the birds being more or 

 less gregarious throughout the year. The bird sits 

 remarkably close, only leaving the eggs when absolutely 

 compelled, and often allowing herself to be stroked by 

 the hand, especially in districts where the birds are 

 protected for their highly-prized down. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement: 

 The eggs of the Common Eider are from five to seven in 

 number, exceptionally as many as eight. They range 

 in colour from creamy-gray to grayish-green or olive- 

 green, and are smooth and wax-like in texture. Average 

 measurement, 3 inches in length, by 2 inches in breadth. 

 Incubation, performed by the female, lasts twenty-eight 

 days. 



Diagnostic characters : The large size of the eggs 

 of the Common Eider readily distinguish them from 

 those of all other species breeding in our area. Down 

 tufts, moderate in size, and varying from brownish-gray 

 to grayish-brown, with obscure pale centres. 



Family ANATID^. Genus Mergus. 



Sub-family MERGINM. 



GOOSANDER. 



Mergus merganser, Lhmaus. 



Single Brooded. Laying season, April and May. 



British breeding area : The Goosander is another 

 extremely local species, and only breeds in a itvj 



