FOOD AND WEIGHT. 461 



birds are constantly to be seen in a state of repose. What 

 may be the case in the winter I know not ; but in the 

 summer it would seem to pass the night on shore ; for 

 when boating, we frequently by moonlight started birds 

 from their roosting-places on the rocks, but never at that 

 time met with them in the water. If this be the case, it 

 would seem that, unlike most other of the duck tribe, the 

 eider does not feed during the hours of darkness. 



Excepting from actual necessity, the eider very rarely flies 

 to any distance from the water, its natural element. Even 

 when flying from one bay to another, it will follow the 

 indentations of the coast rather than cross a headland. " As 

 with several of the oceanic birds, if it accidentally loses sight 

 of the sea, its powers of flight forsake it, and it will alight 

 on the ground and look about, as if in a state of bewilder- 

 ment, and at such times will allow itself to be taken by 

 the hand." 



The eider feeds on Crustacea and marine insects, and, 

 some great authorities will have it, on fish also. It may be 

 so; but though on very many occasions we have seen it, 

 when dead, disgorge quantities of cockles and crabs 

 some of a very considerable size we were never aware of 

 anything in the shape of fish. I speak of the eider in a 

 wild state ; for when domesticated it will eat almost any- 

 thing fish amongst the rest. The eider obtains its food 

 at the bottom ; at times, it is said, at a depth of twenty 

 fathoms. To this fact I cannot testify, but certain it is, that 

 it remains under water for a very long time together. 



The weight of the male eider, prior to pairing, and when 

 in tolerable condition, averages near six pounds ; that of the 

 female is nearly the same, or it may be, somewhat greater. 



