THE EIDEK DUCK AND THE GREAT NORTHERN DIVER. 473 



of the British Ducks, its flesh being peculiarly delicate and its numbers 

 plentiful. 



In the southern parts of England the Eider Duck is only a winter 

 visitant, but remains throughout the year in the more northern portions 

 of our island and in the North of Scotland. 



This bird is widely celebrated on account of the exquisitely soft and 

 bright dow^n which the parent plucks from its breast and lays over the 

 eggs during the process of incubation. Taking these nests is with some 

 a regular business, not devoid of risk, on account of the precipitous lo- 

 calities in which the Eider Duck often breeds. The nest is made of 

 fine sea-w^eeds, and after the mother-bird has laid her complement of 

 eggs she covers them with the soft down, adding to the heap daily until 

 she completely hides them from view. 



The plan usually adopted is to remove both eggs and down, when 

 the female lays another set of eggs and covers them with fresh down. 



Ducks. 



1. Gadwall Duck. 2. Eider Duck. 3. Female. 4. Smew. 5. Ruddy Duck. 6. Female. 



These are again taken, and then the male is obliged to give his help by 

 taking down from his own breast and supplying the place of that which 

 was stolen. The down of the male is pale-colored, and as soon as it is 

 seen in the nest the eggs and down are left untouched, in order to keep 

 up the breed. 



We now come to the family of Colymbidse, or Divers. 



The Great Northern Diver is common on the northern coasts of 

 the British Islands, where it may be seen pursuing its arrowy course 

 through and over the water, occasionally dashing through the air on 

 strong pinions, but very seldom taking to the shore, where it is quite 

 at a disadvantage. 



The eggs of the Northern Divers are generally two in number and 

 of a dark olive-brown, spotted sparingly with brown of another tone. 

 They are laid upon the bare ground, or on a rude nest of flattened 

 herbage near water, and the mother-bird does not sit, but lies flat on the 



40* 



