WATER FOWL. 431 



to five, warmly bedded in the down j of a pale 

 olive colour, and very large, glossy, and smooth. 

 They now and then, however, lay so many as 

 eight; for Van Troil informs us, that no less 

 than sixteen have been found in one nest, with 

 two females, who agree remarkably well together. 

 In America this bird is found as far south as New 

 York, and breeds on the desert isles of New Eng- 

 land ; but most common every- where to the north. 

 They are said to be constant to the same breeding 

 places, and that a pair has been observed to oc- 

 cupy the same nest for twenty years together. 

 They take their young on their backs instantly 

 to sea ; then dive, to shake them off and teach 

 them to shift for themselves. It is said, that the 

 males are five years old before they come to their 

 full colour; that they live to a great age, and 

 will at length grow quite grey. They are very 

 numerous in the Esquimaux lands, where and in 

 Greenland they are called mettek. The natives 

 kill them on the water with darts, striking them 

 the moment they appear after diving ; and know 

 the place from their being preceded by the rising 

 of bubbles. The flesh is much valued.] 



