360 



INTRODUCTION TO ZOOLOGY. 



it supplies the valuable eider-down of commerce. The bird 

 is a very rare visitant to the Irish coast, but is permanently 

 resident in some places on the northern shores of Britain. Its 

 great haunts, however, are the coasts of Norway, Lapland, 

 Iceland, and other loeahties still farther north. The down is 

 plucked by the female from her breast, and spread over the 

 eggs. The fowlers, to whom the districts frequented by the 

 Eider Duck become a valuable property, carry off both eggs 

 and down, the eggs being used by them as food. The Duck 

 again lays, and her nest in like manner is again despoiled. 

 She lays a third time, the male supplying such of the down as 

 she can no longer furnish, and she is then allowed to rear her 

 young without molestation. 



Colymbidce. — The Grebes and the Divers constitute the 

 present family ; and a glance at the annexed figure of the 



^:^ 



Fig. 283 — Grfat Kokthekn Divek. 



Great Northern Diver (Colymhus gladalis, Fig. 282), will 

 convey a better idea of the different aspect of the members of 

 this and the preceding group, than any description. The Divers, 

 as their name implies, are remarkable for their diving powers, 

 thus pursuing their prey and evading their enemies. The bird 

 figured belongs to a species which may be said to live upon the 

 water, except during the time devoted to the rearing of the 



young. 



It is a winter visitant to both the Dritish and Irish 



t 



