THE COMMERCIAL VALUE OF BIRDS. 21 



principally to the birds ; yet how rarely do we spare a 

 thought for these useful creatures when reclining on a 

 soft feather bed, beneath the luxurious warmth of a 

 down coverlet. Most of the feathers plucked from the 

 poultry, Geese, and Ducks which are sent to the markets 

 are reserved for the purpose of making beds, pillows, etc. ; 

 and this supply is further augmented by quantities of 

 imported feathers from the various great haunts of 

 sea-birds. St. Kilda, Iceland, some parts of Norway, 

 and the Bass Rock in Scotland may be given as a few 

 centres from which sea-fowl feathers are annually 

 exported. The feather industry is a large one and finds 

 employment for a great number of persons, who put the 

 feathers through the various processes before they reach 

 our beds. Down, as an article of commerce, is an 

 important product. Eider down are the soft filmy 

 feathers that grow thickly next to the skin, under the 

 ordinary plumage on the breast and belly of the Eider 

 Duck. It is smoky brown in colour, the shaft of each 

 down tuft being a little paler than the filaments. The 

 Eider Duck is found along the coast-line of the Atlantic, 

 in the Arctic regions, and as far south as Denmark and 

 our islands. In Greenland, Iceland, and some parts 

 of Norway this bird is strictly preserved for the 

 commercial value of its down. The Fugel-Vaas or 

 Bird Preserves, on the north-west coast of Norway, the 

 islands of Vigr and CEdey on the north-west of Iceland, 



