^°''m6^"^] Beetz, Notes on the Eider. 287 



The number of eggs in a set of the Eider varies from 6 to 10 

 accidentally 12. If the eggs of the first laying are taken, the ducks 

 lay a second set of four or five eggs, and sometimes a third of two 

 or three eggs. The first set are well covered with down, which the 

 female plucks from her breast in making the nest. The second 

 laying, when the nest has been destroyed, has very little down in 

 the nest, while the third has none at all, but the eggs are covered 

 with moss, leaves and finely broken little branches. 



The three layings here on the north coast of the Gulf of St. 

 Lawrence are between the 10th of May and the 25th of June; very 

 rarely the Eider lays after that date. The female lays an egg every 

 24 hours until the set is completed. She does not begin to set until 

 24 hours after the last egg is laid. The duration of the incubation 

 of the Eider is 25 or 26 days. The female Eider does not nest until 

 the age of two years, some not until a year later. The male Eider 

 rarely mates before attaining full adult plumage at three years. 



If the female Eider is suddenly frightened from her nest during 

 incubation and has not the time to cover the eggs with down, the 

 bird lets fall on her eggs green and oily excrements totally different 

 from the ordinary excrements ^ of the Eider, and of a frightful odor, 

 so strong that an egg touched with it is refused and even discarded 

 with disgust by the hungriest dog. Even foxes, who love these 

 eggs, will not touch them until the liquid is completely dry on the 

 shells. It then falls off as an unobjectional powder. Ten or 

 fifteen minutes are needed for the complete drying process. If the 

 bird can forsee the danger and has time to prepare — a minute or a 

 minute and a half are necessary — she covers the eggs with down, 

 and -then with her beak and feet she covers the whole with moss, 

 leaves and surrounding herbage in so perfect a manner as to com- 

 pletely conceal the nest and deceive the most trained eye. 



The first two species of Eiders — the American Eider and the 

 Unclassed Eider — have been in the habit of nesting on the isles 



1 The ordinary excrements of the Eider are formed, as large around as the middle finger 

 and an inch or an inch and a half long. They are composed chiefly of the comminuted 

 shells of the blue or edible mussel, and are to be seen everywhere on the rocky islands and 

 in the neighborhood of the nests.' The bird, frightened from the nest, ejects liquid excre- 

 ments in the SEime reflex manner as herons and other birds. The excrements do not 

 always touch the eggs but may be deposited on the ground some distance from the nest. 

 C. W. T. 



