80 THE BIRD* WATCHER 
some idea in their mind, which, by giving, or seeming 
to give, them significllice, as it were irradiated them ? 
The “ matter-of-fact man,” as that lowest type of one 
is called, is interested in comparatively few facts even, 
and such fancy and imagination as he does possess 
plays around those few. 
To return to the eider-ducks, I cannot, of course, 
be quite certain that it is always the same family party 
that I see along the beach by the fringe of seaweed, 
but I have little doubt that it is; for, in the first 
place, it always consists of the mother and three 
ducklings, and in the next, there is never another 
bird or party of birds there at the same time with 
them. The double coincidence is, I think, decisive, 
for most of the eiders that have ducklings at all, have 
either one only or two, whilst the greater number are 
without any. But then, to be sure, I have only been 
here a week, nor have I given the matter any very 
special attention. It is not quite constaté, only I like 
to think things, and then think as though they were 
as I think. 
