THE EIDER DUCK. 69 



is the eider duck of the naturaUst, and the Somateria mollissima of 

 the scientist. Tlie first specimens we obtained were shot Sept. 2 7, 

 the above date, and were young birds. We saw a great many small 

 companies of birds scattered here and there about the harbor, but 

 they were generally, at this season, composed of old birds and their 

 broods of young ; the latter were now large enough to kill and are 

 excellent eating. In hunting these birds, especially the old ones, 

 one is obliged to proceed with the greatest caution. A good 

 sighted hunter will detect a flock or a single duck, in rough water 

 even, at a great distance — this is probably due to the fact that liv- 

 ing in a region where one must depend so much upon eyesight, 

 that sense is remarkably quickened — at the same time the duck 

 will also perceive the hunter almost as quickly as it is seen. When 

 the duck sees the suspicious object it reaches its neck to its full ex- 

 tent and takes a long, though quick sight ; if the hunter sees this 

 movement he knows that he is detected ; if he at once remains per- 

 fectly still, the duck is often outwitted, since not seeing the ob- 

 ject move, it supposes that it is some stone or piece of wood before 

 unnoticed, and continues its feeding ; should the hunter move visi- 

 bly ever so little, the bird takes fright and is off at once. In a clear 

 day a person peering cautiously over a slight eminence can see, 

 especially if the water be tranquil, a flock of ducks often a couple 

 of miles seaward. A patient hunter will then conceal himself near 

 some chosen feeding ground, imitate the call of the male bird, and 

 decoy a flock or single bird quite close and within shooting distance. 

 The call is whistled, and sounds like the single, double, or triple 

 call of a snipe, repeated several times in a sort of guttural tone, if 

 such an expression may be applied to a whistle ; after every few 

 times there is an extra low and another similar high note which 

 rounds off the whistle with that peculiar effect so often practised by 

 small boys in trying to roll the tongue, and which enters into the 

 call of so many of the water birds. At low and falling tide the 

 ducks assemble in large colonies on their feeding grounds where 

 the water is shallow and the kelp and muscles thick, — generally 

 at evening and in the early morning ; at such times they will sit 

 upon the rocks and remain there until urged or driven off; their 



