2120 FLAMINGOES, DUCKS, AND SCREAMERS 



feet in height, and of considerable thickness. At the bottom, on both sides of it, 

 alternate stones had been left out, so as to form a series of square apartments for 

 the ducks to nest in. Almost every compartment was occupied, and as we walked 

 along the shore a long line of ducks flew out, one after the other. The surface of 

 the water also was perfectly white with drakes, who welcomed their brown wives 



EIDER DUCKS AND NEST. 

 (Three-tenths natural size.) 



with loud and clamorous cooing. The house itself was a marvel. The earthen 

 walls that surrounded it, and the window embrasures were occupied by ducks. On 

 the ground the house was fringed with ducks. On the turf slopes of its roof we 

 could see ducks, and a duck sat on the door scraper. The grassy banks had been 

 cut into square patches, about eighteen inches having been removed, and each 



