460 ANATID.E. 



The following account of the breeding of the Eider at 

 the Fame Islands is given by Selhy : — " About April these 

 birds are seen assembling in groups along the shores of the 

 main land, from whence they cross over to the islands 

 early in May. As soon as the females begin to lay, which 

 is usually about the 20th, the drakes leave them, and again 

 spread themselves along the adjoining coast. The usual 

 number of eggs is five, of a pale asparagus green, and 

 rather large, measuring three inches in length, by two 

 inches and one line in breadth. The nest is composed of 

 fine sea-weed, and as incubation proceeds, a lining of down, 

 plucked by the bird from her own body, is added : this 

 increases from day to day, and at last becomes so consider- 

 able in quantity, as to envelope and entirely conceal the eggs 

 from view, no doubt contributing by its effect, as a noncon- 

 ductor of heat, to the perfect evolution of the foetus. Incu- 

 bation lasts a month. The food of the Eider consists of the 

 young of the difi"erent muscles that cover the rocks, and 

 other species of bivalves. The young are reared Avith diffi- 

 culty in confinement, and being very bad walkers, are sub- 

 ject to frequent accidents in the poultry -yard. Like all the 

 Anatidce possessing a lobated hind toe, they dive with 

 facility, and remain submerged for a long time." 



In Iceland each nest produces an average of one-sixth 

 of a pound of down, which is worth from 12s. to 15s. per 

 pound on the spot, and it requires about l^lb. to make 

 a single coverlet. Most of the eggs are taken and pickled 

 for winter consumption, only a few being. left to hatch. 

 Eider Ducks are easily domesticated, and not only will they 

 feed freely on worms, slugs, &c., but they also devour vora- 

 ciously the raw flesh of other birds. In the Zoological 

 Gardens, broods were hatched out in 1841, 181:8, and 1849. 

 In the adult male the beak is dusky-green ; the nail 

 white ; the irides brown ; top of the head velvet-black ; 

 lore and cheeks white ; ear-coverts and occiput pale green ; 

 back, scapulars, tertials, point of wing, and smaller Aving- 

 coverts white ; greater wing-coverts black ; primaries and 

 secondaries dull blaqk ; inner secondaries yellowish-white. 



