EIDER DUCK. 203 



the middle of summer; and Pollidore Roux included the 

 Eider Duck amonw the birds found in Provence. 



The most southern locality in this country at which this 

 species is known to breed regularly, is that which was visited 

 by Pennant in July 1769, and has been frequently visited 

 by Mr. Selby, namely, the Fern Islands, situated upon the 

 northern coast of Northumberland. Here, the latter gentle- 

 man observes, " these birds, if protected, would soon become 

 very numerous, and might be made a source of productive 

 wealth, as they afford, in great abundance, that fine and 

 elastic down known by their name, and which, as an article 

 of luxury, produces an exorbitant price. This consideration, 

 however, has hitherto been lost sight of, and the eggs of the 

 Eider have been taken indiscriminately with those of the 

 Gull, Guillemot, &c. and sold for a mere trifle to the inha- 

 bitants of the main land. In consequence, the young annu- 

 ally produced have been few, and those only of the later 

 or second hatchings. The last season, however, proved morei 

 fortunate to all the feathered inhabitants of the islands, as 

 they were protected from extensive depredation by the gen- 

 tleman employed as architect to erect a light-house upon one 

 of the outer rocks. A very numerous brood of all the spe- 

 cies, but particularly of the Eiders, was the consequence^ of 

 this care. 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 seaweed, and as incubation proceeds, a 

 lining of down, plucked by the bird from her own body, is 



