382 FEATHERED GAME 



flavor. But opinions differ as to their food 

 qualities, the islanders praising them highly, 

 even preferring them to the more generally es- 

 teemed fowl of the fresh water. In its feed- 

 ing the Eider dives deeper than most ducks; 

 just how deep we can hardly know, but I think 

 I put it moderately when I claim that they can, 

 as the boys say, ''bring up bottom" in sixty 

 feet of water ; and many say much deeper. 



Many Eiders are killed by gunners who take 

 position under cover on the deep water ledges 

 where the birds feed, waiting while the flocks 

 work in shore, as they dive and come up nearer 

 each time until the whole party is well in. 

 Then the first arrivals gather together in a 

 compact bunch to await the rest of the flock. 

 When all are accounted for they fly out again 

 to repeat the process. Often a considerable 

 number are killed at a discharge as they 

 ''bunch up" to go out. 



From the nature of their haunts few Sea 

 Ducks are killed from "floats" as the water is 

 usually too rough to permit their use, for the 

 ducks, climbing up one hill of green water, may 

 easily look into the craft as it slides down an- 

 other long swell. The game, too, is much more 



