DUCKS 261 



Zool., 1893, p. 458). Attempts to domesticate the 

 Eider with other ornamental waterfowl are not 

 usually successful, owing to the difficulty of pro- 

 viding suitable food. Mr, W. H. St. Quintin, how- 

 ever, has described a mode of treatment which has 

 proved sufficiently satisfactory (Zool., 1888, p. 26). 



The weight of an Eider Duck is from 5 to 5| lbs. 



The names Eider (Welsh ydyr, i.e. downy), 

 applied to Cygnets in 1553 (Kirby, "Annals of 

 Winchester College," p. 276), and Dunter, applied 

 to this bird in Shetland and Orkney (from N. dun 

 and Icel. dunn), both have reference to the famous 

 down, which, from its lightness and elasticity, is so 

 much esteemed for quilts and coverlets, and which 

 is not white like swan's-down, but grey. It re- 

 quires about li lbs. to make a coverlet for a single 

 bed, and when unbleached the down is worth from 

 12s. to 15s. per lb. (Shepherd's "Iceland," p. 105). 



SMEW. Mergus albellus, Linnaeus. PI. 29, figs. 12, 13. 

 Length, 16 in, ; bill, 1-25 in. ; wing, 7"5 in. ; tarsus, 

 1 in. 



A winter visitant, but not numerous, and never 

 seen in large flocks like many of the other Ducks. 

 Adult males in their striking black and white 

 plumage are rarely met with ; the majority of those 

 shot on our coasts by wildfowlers being females 

 and immature birds of the year. They like the 

 brackish water of our tidal harbours, where they 

 get plenty of fish, and seldom come far inland 

 except in very hard weather. Weight, 1 lb. 8 oz. 



