AMERICAN EIDER 305 



in one straight line, much as in the Canvas- 

 back. This is particularly noticeable when the 

 bird is in flight. 



IN FLIGHT. The flight of the larger 

 Eiders is characteristic and unlike that of any 

 of the other ducks; they fly close to the water, sluggishly, with head low-hung, 

 and with steady flapping of the wings. The male has a black breast and white 

 back; this marking, together with its white head, neck, and chest, is distinctive 

 among the ducks. 



VOICE. Male, a raucous, moaning call, he, ho, ha, ho, or a-o-wah-a-o-wah. 



Female, a quack somewhat like that of 

 a Mallard, often in series, wak-wak-wak- 

 wak-wak; when angry, as when at- 

 tacked by a gull, a harsh raucous note, 

 wh-r-r-r-r; when ready for mating, the 

 note is, aw, aw, aw. Courtship voice 

 of male, two distinct notes, ah-oo, and 

 k'doo, both notes being soft and dove- 

 like, but of great carrying power. The 

 downy young have a clear, piping note, 

 peep, peep, peep, peep. 



LIFE STORY 



The fine, handsome American Eider belongs to the species that pro- 

 duces the down which has made "eider" a household word throughout 

 the civilized world. This large maritime duck is closely related to the 

 Common Eider of Europe and to the Northern Eider of the north Arctic 

 coasts of America. Though persecuted almost to the point of extinction 

 on this continent, the eider is one of the best friends of man, and is 

 entitled to the fullest protection of our game laws. Most of the real eider 

 down of commerce comes from the European variety of this wonderful 

 bird, and our eider has been ready and willing to serve us on this con- 

 tinent in the same manner. With characteristic New World short- 

 sightedness in the treatment of our natural resources we have, for gen- 

 erations, thoughtlessly slaughtered this splendid bird which is capable 

 of furnishing us with a product of great value. Ornithologists from the 

 time of the great Audubon have pleaded for the preservation of the 

 eider and at long last, largely through the Provisions of the Migratory 

 Birds Treaty, the bird now receives adequate protection. 



Apart from civilized man, eiders have many natural enemies; Arctic 

 foxes, polar bears, skuas, falcons, sharks, seals, ravens, and black-backed 

 and glaucous gulls all prey on these gentle, trusting birds, their downy 

 young, and their eggs. The natives of the North depend upon the eider, 

 particularly its eggs, for food, and use its skins for garments. Hayes 

 (1867) gives the following account of the depredations of the glaucous 

 gull on young eiders: "Near by was a low, isolated rock ledge, which we 

 called Hans Island. The glaucous gulls, those cormorants of the Arctic 

 seas, had made it their peculiar homestead; their progeny, already full 



