COURTSHIPS OF LABRADOR BIRDS 



head to just below the eyes are jet black, while 

 the sides of his face and the back of his head are 

 washed with a most delicate and lovely shade 

 of green. Seen from the side, when he swims 

 on the water, the black crown, wings and tail 

 contrast beautifully with the general whiteness 

 of the rest of the plumage. From behind, the 

 black crown is seen to be carefully parted by a 

 white line in the centre, while the black wings 

 and tail, separated by a white division, make a 

 striking pattern. In flight, the black belly and 

 white breast are conspicuous, an arrangement 

 the reverse of the usual in bird colouration. 



The female eider, on the other hand, effaces 

 herself in a garment of brown, so that she is 

 often invisible against the dark water, while 

 her mate shines forth conspicuously. One may 

 see at a distance a company of eiders all ap- 

 parently males, but on nearer approach the 

 company is found to contain a number of 

 females, which were at first invisible owing to 

 their plainer colouring. To their mates these 

 lady eiders must appear very charming, and 

 indeed to human eyes, the beauty of the plu- 

 mage of the females must be granted, for, when 

 seen at close range, they show most wonderful 



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