168 THE EIDER DUCK. 



The native regions of the Eider Duck extend from 45* 

 N. to the highest latitudes yet discovered, both m Europ« 

 and America. Solitary rocky shores and islands are theij 

 favourite haunts. Some wandering pairs have been known 

 to breed on the rocky islands beyond Portland, in the 

 state of Maine, which is perhaps the most southern extent 

 of their breeding place. 



In England, the Fern Isles, on the coast of Northumber- 

 land, are annually visited by a few of these birds, being the 

 only place in South Britain where they are known to breed. 

 They occur again in some of the Western Isles of Scotland. 

 Greenland and Iceland abound with them, and here, in par- 

 ticular places, their nests are crowded so close together, that 

 a person can scarcely walk without treading on them. 



The natives of these countries know the value of the 

 down, and carry on a regular system of plunder, both of it 

 aad also of the eggs. The nest is generally formed out- 

 wardly of drift-grass, dry sea-weed, and ouch like materials; 

 the inside composed of a large quantity of down, plucked 

 from the breast of the female. In this soft, elastic bed she 

 deposits five eggs, extremely smooth and glossy, of a pale 

 olive colour ; they are also warmly covered with the same 

 kind of down. When the whole number is laid, they are 

 taken away by the natives, and also the down with which 

 the nest is lined, together with that which covers the eggs. 

 The female once more strips her breast of the remaining 

 down, and lays a second time ; even this, with tb« eggs, ia 



