EIDER 



275 



The eider-down trade is of great importance to the inhabitants of the northern 

 coasts. In Iceland the privilege of taking the nests and eggs of the eider and 

 other sea-birds is usually vested in the landlords, by whom the ducks are encour- 

 aged to nest on certain small islands, where they become so tame as to incubate 

 upon the houses, and allow the inhabitants to walk about among them as they sit. 

 Unfortunately the people are so ignorant and greedy as to take not only the first 

 clutch, but also the second and even the third, although there are only three eggs 

 in the second clutch, and two, or sometimes only one, in the third clutch, the eggs 

 of these clutches being smaller than those of the first. The result of this practice 



EIDER DRAKE. 



is to make the eiders abandon the places where they are thus treated ; and more 

 prudent proprietors prohibit the taking of any eggs save those of the first clutch, 

 and otherwise do all in their power to protect the eiders. In Norway it is the 

 practice to collect the young birds in baskets and carry them down to the sea ; 

 where they are followed by their screaming parents, which, on arrival, collect 

 together as many as possible. Without this precaution, the young, which are com- 

 paratively safe on the sea, would suffer severely on their way down from the 

 attacks of birds-of-prey, gulls, and other depredators. 



The female eider plucks out so many of her feathers for the lining of the nest, 

 that her breast is frequently quite bare, and there are none left for the second and 

 third broods. In such cases it has been stated the male bird contributes his own 

 down, which he permits the female to pluck, but this appears to be a myth. 



