COMMON, OR WHITE-BACKED EIDER. 157 



instantly sprung past them on wing, uttering a harsh cry. 

 Now and then some were seen to alight on the ground within 

 fifteen or twenty yards, and walk as if lame and broken- 

 winged, crawling slowly away, to entice their enemies to go 

 in pursuit. Generally, however, they w^ould fly to the sea, 

 and remain there in a large flock until their unwelcome 

 visitors departed. When pursued by a boat, with their brood 

 around them, they allowed us to come up to shooting dis- 

 tance, when, feigning decrepitude, they would fly off", beating 

 the water with partially extended wings, while the young 

 either dived or ran on the surface with wonderful speed, for 

 forty or fifty yards, then suddenly plunged, and seldom 

 appeared at the surface unless for a moment. The mothers 

 always flew away as soon as their brood dispersed, and then 

 ended the chase. The cry or note of the female is a hoarse 

 rolling croak ; that of the male I never heard." 



Young. — When completely feathered, the young males 

 and females resemble the adult female. 



Progress towards Maturity. — In the first winter and 

 spring, the males have the upper part of the head, its sides, 

 and the upper part of the neck, greyish-brow^n, spotted with 

 deep brown ; the lower part of the neck and the breast barred 

 with black and white ; the upper parts blackish-brown, the 

 feathers edged with pale brown ; the wing-coverts and inner 

 secondary quills whitish ; the bill and legs greenish-grey. In 

 the second year the white patches are seen on the neck, back, 

 and wings ; the greater part of the back is black ; and the 

 lower parts of the body are variegated with light red, whitish, 

 and black spots. In the next stage the colours are nearly as 

 in the adult, the full colouring of which is not assumed, it is 

 stated by various writers, until the fourth year. 



Remarks. — It seems rather strange that in Ireland this 

 bird ranks only as " an extremely rare visitant," only two 

 individuals being positively announced by Mr. Thompson as 

 having been obtained there, although some others are men- 

 tioned. 



