EIDER DUCK 



Sornateria mollisstma 



HE Eider Duck is an Atlantic species and breeds on 

 most of the islands off the west coast of Scotland, 

 including the Hebrides and St. Kilda, and also on the 

 Orkneys and Shetlands; on the east coast it breeds 

 sparingly in the Firths of Forth and Tay, and in 

 England on the Fame Islands ; it is, however, only a 

 rare visitor to the English coast, south of Yorkshire, 

 and to Ireland, where it sometimes strays during the winter. 



The Eider does not, as a rule, wander far from its breeding haunts, 

 but may generally be seen frequenting the islands or coasts where it breeds, 

 even during the storms of winter. It is chiefly a dweller on the sea, and 

 does not often leave the salt water; on the west coast, however, it may 

 be seen on some of the fresh-water lochs, both on the islands and near the 

 coast, and in such localities it flies across the land to and from the sea. 

 In winter the Eiders collect into large flocks and become extremely wary ; 

 indeed, it is almost impossible to get within gunshot of them except by 

 most careful stalking. They may generally be seen feeding on the coast, 

 swimming just outside the breakers, sometimes diving through them and 

 searching for the small crustaceans on which they feed. They are very 

 great adepts at diving, and can remain a long time under water, 

 obtaining most of their food in this way. They float very lightly on the 

 surface, and swim well, even in rough water, rising at once in the air when 

 disturbed, but they are not so quick in taking wing when the water is calm, 

 usually splashing along the top for some distance before rising. The Eider 

 is very seldom seen with other ducks, except its rare and beautiful ally the 

 King Eider; I have repeatedly seen it drive off small bunches of Widgeon, 

 when the latter had presumed to intrude on its feeding-grounds. 



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