FEATHER BEDS. 



401 



beds, selected from many others on account of the exact parallels 

 which they afford. 



We all know the wonderful warmth and lightness of the 

 Eider-down mattress or quilt, though there are comparatively 

 few who know how the Eider-down is procured. 



In common with many other creatures, the Eider-duck forms 

 a bed for her young by plucking the down from her own body. 

 Rabbits do exactly the same thing, as all boys know who have 

 kept them, the only difference being that fur is substituted for 

 feathers. So do many insects, stripping themselves of their 



LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE. 



EIDEB-DUCK. 



FEATHER BED. 



own downy covering, and employing it for the comfort of their 

 offspring. 



The lower figure on the left hand represents the Eider- 

 duck in the act of plucking the far-famed down from her 

 breast in order to make a soft and warm couch for her young, 

 and the amount of feathers which she will devote to this 

 purpose is simply astonishing. Their weight is insignificant, 

 but their bulk is wonderful. 



Above the Eider-duck is shown the nest of the common 

 Long-tailed Titmouse. It is the most perfect nest that is 

 constructed by any British bird. Its shape exactly resembles 

 that of an egg, and it has but one small aperture, as is shown 

 in the illustration. 



The Titmouse lays a va.s.t number of eggs, and almost fills 



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