28 DUCK SHOOTING. 



On many of the breeding grounds in Iceland and 

 Norway the birds are so tame as to pay little attention 

 to the approach of strangers. Often the nests occur in 

 such numbers that it is difficult to walk among them 

 without stepping on them. On the little island of 

 Vidoe, near Reikjavik, almost all the hollows among 

 the rocks with which the ground is strewn are occupied 

 by nests of the birds. Here, too, they occupy burrows 

 especially prepared for them, as with the sheldrakes in 

 Sylt. 



In Baird, Brewer and Ridgway's ''North American 

 Birds," Dr. T. M. Brewer quotes Mr. C. W. Shepard, 

 who, in a sketch of his travels in northern Iceland, 

 gives the following account of the tameness and breed- 

 ing there of the eider : 



"The islands of Vigr and Oedey are their headquar- 

 ters in the northwest of Iceland. In these they live in 

 undisturbed tranquillity. They have become almost do- 

 mesticated, and are found in vast multitudes, as the 

 young remain and breed in the place of their birth. 

 As the island (Vigr) was approached we could see 

 flocks upon flocks of the sacred birds, and could hear 

 their cooing at a great distance. We landed on a 

 rocky, wave-worn shore. It was the most wonderful 

 ornithological sight conceivable. The ducks and their 

 nests were everywhere. Great brown ducks sat upon 

 their nests in masses, and at every step started from 

 under our feet. It was with difficulty that we avoided 

 treading on some of the nests. On the coast of the 

 opposite shore was a wall built of large stones, just 



