The Eider Duck. 389 



Wild Ducks are caught by decoys in the fen countries, 

 and in such prodigious numbers, that in only ten decoys 

 in the neighbourhood of Wainfleet, as many as thirty- 

 one thousand two hundred have been caught in one sea- 

 son. They do not always build their nests close to the 

 water, but often at a considerable distance from it; in 

 which case the female will take the young ones in her 

 beak, or between her legs, to the water. They have 

 sometimes been known to lay their eggs in a high tree, 

 in a deserted magpie's or crow's nest ; and an instance 

 has been recorded of one being found at Etchingham, in 

 Sussex, sitting upon nine eggs in an oak, at the height 

 of twenty-five feet from the ground : the eggs were sup- 

 ported by some small twigs laid cross-ways. 



The tame Ducks, reared about mills and rivers, or 

 wherever there is a sufficient quantity of water for them 

 to indulge their sports and to search for food, become a 

 branch of trade, which proves very profitable to their 

 owners. 



THE EIDER DUCK, (Sornateria mottissima,) 

 WHICH is found about the coasts of the north of England 



