SIDES DUCKS. 261 



it is intended to or not, serves the useful twofold 

 purpose of preventing an undue escape of heat 

 and lessening the chances of discovery by a 

 prowling enemy. 



Young Eiders are the hardiest little birds in 

 their own element I have ever seen. They will 

 dash into a boiling sea from almost any height a 



YOUNG EIDER DUCK. 



day or two after they have made their advent into 

 the world. 



One rough day we went out to try to photo- 

 graph the breakers as they tumbled in upon the 

 rocks at the northern end of the Fame. After 

 making one or two studies we walked round the 

 north-west corner of the island, and suddenly came 

 upon an Eider Duck and seven small young ones. 

 We stopped, with the intention of withdrawing, 

 but as the old bird did not seem in the least 



