24 



AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



the female finds a suitable pro- 

 tected spot, and there she con- 

 structs her nest, which she lines 

 with down from her own breast. 

 As soon as the eggs are laid, the 

 male deserts his mate and betakes 

 himself to sea again, where in 

 company with other grass-widow- 

 ers, they remain until after molt- 

 ing. 



These nests furnish the eider- 

 down of commerce. About 

 twenty-five of the nests will yield 

 a pound of down. The eggs are 

 also taken, as they are very good 

 for food. The duck lays a second 

 set, after having had the first 

 stolen; that is not disturbed, as 

 the fishermen know that to do so, 

 would soon cut off the supply of 

 down and their revenue. 



The female is not timid when 

 sitting on her eggs, and you can 

 approach quite near; indeed, I 

 have seen it stated that they will 

 allow themselves to be stroked 

 with the hand. As soon as 

 hatched, the young are led to the 

 water, in which they immediately 

 plunge and proceed to swim about 

 . like veterans. 



We have received a number of 

 interesting articles in our com- 

 petition, the first one of which 

 closes Feb. i. The article we 

 deem the best will be published in 

 the March number. There is no 

 better way for one to study the 

 birds than to write about them. 



It necessitates the studying of 

 their habits from life. 



For the March contest we offer 

 the same as last month — ^3 

 for the best article under ^00 words, 

 on bird life. 



We will give $2 for the best 

 photograph of birds from life, or 

 photo of their nest, received be- 

 tween Feb. I and March i. 



Manuscript not accepted will 

 be returned if postage is sent for 

 same. 



Acting upon the suggestion of 

 several of our subscribers, we are 

 having prepared a color chart, on 

 which all the colors that we shall 

 use in describing the birds will be 

 illustrated and named. We are 

 also preparing a chart showing the 

 different parts of a bird. These 

 will probably appear in the April 

 number. 



In connection with the American 

 Eider, presented in this issue, it 

 may be interesting to note that the 

 pair of birds from which the illus- 

 tration is made, are now resting 

 in their native element in the North 

 Atlantic. They were aboard the 

 "Miranda" which carried the Cook 

 expedition in July, 1894. The 

 steamer struck an iceberg and 

 sank, off the coast of Greenland. 

 A Snowy Owl met a like fate at 

 the same time. 



