EIDER. NATATORES. SOMATERIA. 339 



Zone. Upon the Northumbrian coast many Eiders breed 

 upon the group of Fern Islands*, situated towards the 

 northern extremity of that county, and from two to eight 

 miles distant from the shore, and which, with Coquet Island 

 (about ten miles farther along the coast), may be reckoned 

 the most southern breeding-stations of these birds. About 

 April they are seen assembling in small groups along the shores 

 of the mainland, from whence they cross over to the Islands in 

 May, soon after which the females begin to prepare their nests, 

 and they usually commence laying about the twentieth of that 

 month. The males, as soon as this takes place, and incuba- 

 tion commences, leave the females, and again spread them- 

 selves along the shore, in companies of four or five together, 

 and do not (as far as my observation goes) " continue on 

 watch near the shore, as long as the females remain sitting," 

 and then desert both her and the newly hatched brood, as 

 mentioned in SHAW'S Zoology. The usual number of eggs 

 is five, of a pale asparagus-green colour, of an oblong shape, 

 and not much less than those of a Goose. The nest is com- Nest, &c. 

 posed of dried grasses, mixed with a quantity of the smaller 

 algae, and as incubation proceeds (and which lasts for a 

 month) a lining of down, plucked by the bird from her own 

 body, is added. This addition is made daily, and at last be- 

 comes so considerable in mass, as to envelope and entirely 

 conceal the eggs, contributing, perhaps by its effect, as a non- 

 conductor of heat, to the perfect development of the foetus, 

 and serving also as a protection from Gulls and other ene- 

 mies. The young, as soon as hatched, are conducted to the 

 water, which in some instances must be effected by the pa- 

 rent conveying them in her bill, as I have often seen the nest 

 in such situations as to preclude the possibility of their ar- 



* In consequence of having been wantonly molested in this locality 

 during the breeding season, the Eiders have of late years very much de- 

 creased ; and the same cause has been equally fatal to the Cormorants, 

 Guillemots, Gulls, Terns, &c., which were but a short time since astonish- 

 ingly numerous on these rocky islands. 



