310 BAY, SEA OR DIVING DUCKS 



amounts that the eggs can be entirely covered when the sitting bird is 

 absent. The female can supply some down for a second set of eggs if the 

 first is stolen, or if the down is removed. The statement that the male 

 is called upon to supply down for the nest is not correct. He does not 

 supply down, but he often visits the nest while the set of eggs is incom- 

 plete. If the nest is repeatedly robbed of down the bird is obliged to 

 use other material in its place. The eggs are oval in shape, of a luster- 

 less exterior, as if the lime had been put on with a coarse brush. The 

 colour is olive green, varying in depth, and sometimes tinged with 

 brownish. Four eggs constitute the usual setting which, however, varies 

 from 3 to 6 eggs, the average size of which is 2.99 by 2.00 inches. These 

 are the largest of ducks' eggs. The period of incubation is 28 days and 

 incubation is performed by the female alone. 



The spring migration from New England coasts takes place during 

 the latter part of March and the beginning of April. The adult males 

 precede the females and juveniles. The females must overtake the males, 

 for adults of both sexes arrive on the breeding grounds in mixed flocks 

 of 20 to 100 birds each. Just before commencing their northward flight 

 these birds may be seen gathering on the sandbars, as the gunners say 

 "to take in sand ballast" after which they proceed north in long lines. 

 The summer is spent on breeding grounds which lie chiefly on the 

 islands off the coast of Labrador. In June fully half of the adult males 

 leave the breeding grounds in flocks. The autumn migration takes place 

 during November and by the middle of December the birds are on their 

 winter quarters which extend from as far north as open water is to be 

 found to the coast of Massachusetts. Winter holds no terrors for them; 

 even in the roughest winter storms they brave the foaming waves, diving 

 unconcernedly for their food among the surf-swept ledges. 



As has already been mentioned, the American Eider belongs to the 

 species from which the eider-down of commerce is obtained. In Norway 

 and Iceland a thriving and substantial eider-down industry has flour- 

 ished for a great many years, but on this continent we have been tardy 

 in following the example set by these older countries. In Europe the 

 eider duck has for long been rigidly protected and made a source of 

 considerable revenue. In America, on the contrary, this valuable bird 

 has been incessantly persecuted and by constant egging and senseless 

 slaughter was greatly reduced in numbers. Eider-down, as is well 

 known, is not only extremely light and elastic but is one of the poorest 

 conductors of heat and as such is an ideal substance for the making of 

 coverlets, quilts and stuffed garments, in which the qualities of lightness 

 and warmth are the chief requisites. Genuine eider-down brings a high 

 price in the markets of the world. 



Typifying the attitude of the European countries towards the eider 

 and illustrating how the eider-down industry is fostered, Annandale 

 (1905) says: "The one offense against the Icelandic bird laws which a 

 native can not commit with impunity is the slaughter of the eider duck. 

 What is more important than many laws, namely public opinion, pro- 

 tects the species, and there seems to be a sentimental interest in it. 



