EIDER-DOWN. 197 



In Norway the down is used for light beds. These 

 " overdowns," as they are called here, are uncomfort- 

 able coverings. They are oppressively hot in summer, 

 and no doubt check perspiration, being also conducive 

 to nightmare and wakefulness. It would be difficult, 

 however, to find a house in Norway where they are 

 not used. 



The people on the coast of Norway are allowed by 

 law to remove the down twice from the eider's nest. 

 The bird then covers the eggs a third time with the 

 down from her breast, which is not permitted to be 

 taken until the eggs are hatched ; but it should be re- 

 moved from the nest as soon as the ducklings are out 

 of their shells, otherwise it will be worthless, especially 

 if rain should happen to fall on it. The eider covers 

 her eggs with the down when she leaves her nest in 

 search of food. Instinct teaches her to do so, in order 

 to protect the eggs from the gulls, skuas, and crows, 

 which are constantly on the watch to steal them. The 

 gull and skua occupy the same terrain as the eider, 

 and not only steal numbers of the eggs, but commit 

 sad ravages among the eider ducklings when they first 

 take to the water. 



This species of duck is not affected by the severe 

 cold of the north. It is constantly on the water, ex- 

 cept during the time of incubation, and it is frequently 

 frozen hard and fast in the ice on the fjords. This 

 only takes place when the winter sets in unusually 

 early. 



Pontoppidan gives us this information concerning 

 the eider : " If the first five eggs are taken away the 

 bird lays again, but" only three eggs, and in another 

 nest; and if those are stolen, she lays a single egg. 



