90 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



place on the English coast at which the species 

 now breeds. Owing to protection the birds breed- 

 ing at the Fame Islands are very tame. We 

 stroked the back of one bird as she sat on 

 her eggs close under the walls of St. Cuth- 

 bert's Tower. The keepers told us the same 

 bird had nested in that situation for seven 



EIDER DUCK'S NEST AND EGGS. 



years in succession, as they were able to 

 identify her by a white spot at the back of 

 her head. 



Materials. Dry seaweed, heather, or coarse 

 grass, with an inner lining of beautiful soft down 

 from the bird's own body. The down is accumu- 

 lated as the eggs are laid or incubation advances. 

 Individual birds vary in respect to supplying it 

 during the time they are laying. I have noticed 

 that whilst some had a fairly liberal supply and 

 only three eggs, others with seven had not a 

 particle. 



Eggs. Four to eight. Pale greyish-green to 



