AMERICAN EIDER. 



DEPLACING the Common Eider on a large portion 

 of the Atlantic coast, the present species is distributed 

 from Labrador as far south in winter as the Delaware 

 River. Formerly it was more abundant and passed a 

 greater portion of the winter along the shores of Massa- 

 chusetts, but now it seldom appears south of that State 

 save in very cold weather in midwinter. Occasionally it 

 penetrates to the westward, and has been observed on the 

 Great Lakes and captured in both Illinois and Wisconsin, 

 pretty far in the interior for a Sea Duck. It breeds from 

 the northern limit of Labrador to the Bay of Fundy 

 and the northeastern coast of Maine. In Labrador it 

 prefers small islands in sheltered bays as sites for its 

 nest, and this is placed under small firs and other trees 

 with low, down-reaching branches^ or beneath overhang- 

 ing plants with thick foliage. The nest, placed in a de- 

 pression in the ground in situations like those described, 

 is formed of sea-weed, mosses, grasses, and such-like 

 suitable material, and filled with the softest and warmest 

 downy bed imaginable, in which the eggs lie, often hid- 

 den from sight. These are usually six in number, pale 

 greenish olive in color. The female is a close sitter, 

 and if disturbed from the nest utters a hoarse croak. 

 Sometimes one nest is occupied by two females, each de- 

 positing her eggs, and when the full number is reached 

 both carry on the duty of incubation together in the most 

 complete harmony, and when the young appear assume 

 jointly the care of the united broods. The female de- 

 fends her young from the attacks of such feathered and 



