ITS NESTING HABITS. 351 



the size of those of a goose. It happens occasionally, we 

 are told, that two or three females deposit their eggs in 

 the same nest, and in company sit amicably upon them. 

 To this point I cannot speak from actual observation ; 

 but having frequently seen more than one female with the 

 same young brood, gives some countenance to the notion. 

 In those parts of Scandinavia where this bird is protected, 

 it is said to be so tame as to nest not only in the boat- 

 houses, but in the very huts of the fishermen, and whilst 

 sitting, to allow of being handled by them. Such domes- 

 ticity, however, was not found in our Skitrgard, where it 

 was subject to constant persecution. In most instances, 

 indeed, the old bird took wing when one was at all near 

 the nest, leaving the eggs or the chicks, as the case might 

 be, to their fate. 



Bishop Pont oppidan gives a somewhat curious account 

 of the proceedings of the Eider during the breeding season. 

 " If the first five eggs are stole away," he says, " then 

 the -bird lays again, but only three eggs, and in another 

 nest ; if these are lost, then she lays one more. Eour 

 weeks the mother sits alone on the eggs, and the cock 

 stands watching underneath in the water, so that if any 

 human creature, or beast of prey, approaches, he gives her 

 notice by crying hu, hu ; and then she covers her eggs 

 with moss and down, which he keeps ready prepared, and 

 comes down to her mate in the water. But he does not 

 receive her very kindly ; and if her eggs are lost by any 

 accident, he gives her many blows with his wings, which 

 she must take patiently ; and after this he entirely deserts 

 her, and she is obliged to join the flock of her kind under 

 the same disgrace." 



It is generally supposed that so soon as the young 



ones are out of the shell, the mother conducts them to 



the water; some say, however, that they remain in the 



nest twenty-four hours afterwards, and until they have 



