46 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



many northern localities of North America. Specimens 

 are occasionally met with in the southern counties of 

 England, but these cases are far from numerous, as the 

 bird is more attached to the colder climates of the north ; 

 the Fern Islands, on the coast of Northumberland, and the 

 isles of the Hebrides and Orkney being the principal 

 localities resorted to in Great Britain. 



The name of St. Cuthbert's Duck is also given to this 

 bird, owing to the fact of its breeding on St. Cuthbert's 

 Isle in considerable numbers and with great regularity. 



The Eider Duck, from the peculiar position of the legs, 

 walks with difficulty and awkwardness ; consequently it 

 seldom in the day-time remains long upon dry land. It 

 is, however, a splendid swimmer, dives constantly, and is 

 capable of remaining beneath the surface of the water for 

 some considerable time. Its food consists of fish, shelled 

 mollusca, Crustacea, and marine insects, which are procured 

 by the bird either on the surface or at various depths be- 

 neath. Very little, if any, vegetable matter is taken into 

 the stomach. 



The Eider Duck is more or less gregarious at all times, 

 and it is often seen in considerable numbers on the open 

 sea. It is a day feeder, and is said often to spend its 

 nights on land, being one of the earliest birds astir in the 

 morning, going to the sea to feed at the first streak of 

 dawn. 



Nesting is commenced in May, tbe birds leaving the 

 mainland and assembling on islands for this purpose. The 

 nest is made of fine seaweed, and as the eggs are laid they 

 are covered by the parent bird with down plucked from its 

 breast. By the time the last egg is laid the covering of 

 down thus deposited is considerable, and doubtless by its 



