THE EIDER DUCK. 357 



desolate region of the Frozen Seas, and abiding either solitary 

 or in pairs near the ice, as far as possible from land, but 

 assembling, at the breeding season, in vast numbers, on most 

 of the islands in the north. As Iceland is one of their favour- 

 ite haunts, we cannot do better than collect our particulars 

 from a spot where they are probably better known than any- 

 where else. There, as they are rarely hurt or disturbed, they 

 become surprisingly tame, and allow persons to walk amongst 

 their nests. On approaching them, the Drakes, indeed, often 

 take alarm, and plunge with great precipitancy into the water ; 

 but the Ducks generally remain sitting on their nests, or merely 

 fly to the distance of a yard or two, and on an attempt to touch 

 their eggs, return in a rage. Many of them suffer themselves 

 to be handled, and can only be removed by actual force from 

 their nests. In some parts of the island, where they are more 

 particularly attended to, they build their nests on the roofs of 

 the houses, and become quite familiar with the inhabitants. 

 The nests are constructed of sea-weed, and lined with the finest 

 down plucked from their breasts. 



As soon as it is observed that the first eggs are laid, they 

 are removed, and the nests at the same time robbed of the 

 down ; and this is repeated a second or third time ; but it is 

 generally found, that if they are robbed more than twice, they 

 begin to desert the place, and if pillaged oftener, they quit it 

 entirely. 



A few days after the young Ducks leave the egg, they pro- 

 ceed to the water, under the guidance of their dam, who swims 

 with them on her back to some distance, when, making a sudden 

 dive, she abandons them to themselves, and reappearing, tempts 

 them to come towards her; so that, on the first trial, they 

 commonly become expert swimmers. When the breeding 

 season is over, they generally stand out to sea ; yet numbers 

 are seen frequenting the bays and creeks about the coast. 



The eggs furnish excellent food to the inhabitants, and the 

 down is bought on the spot at about thirteen or fourteen 

 shillings a pound, by merchants, who send it to different parts 

 of the world. It is used chiefly for making bed coverings, on 

 account of its exceeding lightness as well as warmth ; a large 



