AMERICAN EIDER. 223 



furred foes as she is able to withstand, and, as soon as 

 they are hatched, leads them to the water, where they 

 can at least escape from their enemies of the air by div- 

 ing. The males leave the females when incubation be- 

 gins, and, like those of the other species, betake them- 

 selves to the sea. The food of this Duck consists of 

 mollusks, which it swallows entire. 



The American Eider likes to haunt rocky shores, and 

 may often be seen standing on the bowlders, slippery with 

 the spray and marine mosses, at the edge of the water. 

 I have frequently watched them flying low over the sea 

 in regular undulating lines, the quick flaps of the wings, 

 succeeded by a rigid poise, when on fixed pinions the 

 birds would sail along for a short distance, followed by 

 more flappings, and thus, with alternate beats and sail- 

 ings, they would move swiftly along close to the shore. 

 Occasionally they would be congregated on the water in 

 flocks of considerable size, and avoided the approaching 

 boat by diving, staying under the surface for a rather 

 lengthy time, and then rising at some distance away, to 

 dive again, or to move off in long lines. 



The male is a handsome bird, and shows well when 

 swimming on the surface of the sea, as he rises and 

 sinks upon the swells rolling in toward the rocks. As 

 an article of food the American Eider is about on a par 

 with his European relative, and there is little satisfaction 

 in shooting the bird, large and handsome as he is, unless 

 for the sole purpose of obtaining some down or a 

 specimen. 



SO MATER I A DRESSER I. 



Geographical Distribution. North America, from Labrador 

 to Delaware on the Atlantic coast. Occasionally westward to 

 the Great Lakes. 



