204 DUCK SHOOTING. 



The eiders are deep-sea feeders and subsist chiefly on 

 small shell-fish, which they bring up from the bottom, 

 often at great depths. They gather together in large 

 flocks, and when they rise on the wing do so gradually, 

 running and flapping along over the water for some dis- 

 tance", much after the manner of the scoters. In fact, 

 in many of their ways these birds remind us much of 

 scoters. 



As might be inferred from their food, eiders are not 

 desirable table birds, the flesh being usually fishy and 

 very rank. 



