THE MOOR 57 



king-duck, which is much rarer. Judging from 

 notices one sometimes sees, it does not seem to be 

 generally known that this bird is a resident of 

 Scotland, at least of such a low latitude, and builds 

 on the seaside moors. "The eider-duck," says St. 

 John, " is a rare visitant to this part of the coast, 

 (Moray). It breeds in some of the more northern 

 rocky islands of Scotland, though even there it is 

 now rare." And here are whole six all at once, 

 evidently, with no intention of seeking further for 

 summer quarters. 



For some minutes I have been walking through 

 a stretch of heather, when an eider-duck rises 

 almost at my feet, exposing a nest of four eggs, 

 and thus settling, in the only practical way, the 

 question of its breeding. According to her wont, 

 she had trusted for protection to the unobtrusive 

 colouring, which so exquisitely blends with the 

 surrounding shades; and, only when she saw that 

 I was coming straight upon her, did she rise, more 

 quickly than I could have conceived possible in so 

 heavy a bird. 



In crossing the moor last season I came upon 

 four sitting eider-ducks, evidently prepared to let 

 me pass, however near I approached ; and all of 

 which I could easily have secured with the insect 



