200 EIDER DUCK. 



taking them. The number of Ducks that have been 

 caught in one year, by this and other methods, in the 

 neighbourhood of Wainfleet in Lincolnshire, is said to 

 have exceeded thirty thousand. These birds, when 

 caught young, are easily tamed ; and in this state, from 

 their fecundity and manner of feeding, are considered the 

 most profitable of all poultry. They are frequently 

 hatched and reared by hens. Yet their natural habits 

 do not, in any respect, appear to be altered by this sub- 

 stitution of a foster-parent ; for, no sooner are they able 

 to run about, than they fearlessly plunge into the water, 

 leaving their nurse on the bank, in the utmost state of 

 agitation and alarm for their safety. 



Eider Duck. It is from this species of Duck that the 

 excessively soft and well-known substance called eider- 

 down is produced. The parent-birds pluck it from their 

 own breast, for the purpose of lining their nests with it. 

 These nests are formed in unfrequented places, near the 

 sea-shores of Scotland, Iceland, and other northern parts 

 of Europe ; and, during the season of hatching their 

 young, they are so fearless of man, that they will suffer 

 themselves to be removed by the fowlers from their nest, 

 for the purpose of robbing them of the down, after which 

 they will continue the process of incubation, as if nothing 

 had disturbed them. These birds feed almost wholly on 

 shell-fish and other marine animals. 



In size the Eider Duck is nearly twice as large as the 

 common species. The bill is somewhat cylindrical; 

 the upper mandible is forked in a singular manner to- 

 wards each eye, and is covered with white feathers on 

 the sides, as far forward as the nostrils. In the male 

 the feathers of part of the head, and of the belly and 



