THE EIDER DUCK. 873 



joy at the unexpected re-union, by twining his neck on hers, 

 nestling it under her wing, and gazing at her with eyes 

 expressive of extreme delight and satisfaction. 



There is another Wild-Duck deserving of mention, from 

 the value of the down upon its breast, which is carefully 

 collected by those who rear these birds, and dispose of their 

 produce at a very high price. The bird we speak of is the 

 Eider Duck. And well may it have a warmer under-clothing 

 than most other Ducks, born and bred, as it is, amidst the 

 most dreary and desolate region of the Frozen Seas, and 

 abiding either solitary or in pairs near the ice, as far as 

 possible from land, but assembling, at the breeding season, in 

 vast numbers, on most of the islands in the North. As 

 Iceland is one of their favourite haunts, we cannot do better 

 than collect our particulars from a spot where they are pro- 

 bably better known than anywhere else. There, as they are 

 rarely hurt or disturbed, they become surprisingly tame, and 

 allow persons to walk amongst their nests. On approaching 

 them, the Drakes, indeed, often take alarm, and plunge with 

 great precipitancy into the water ; but the Ducks generally 

 remain sitting on their nests, or merely fly to the distance of 

 a yard or two, and on an attempt to touch their eggs, return 

 in a rage. Many of them suffer themselves to be handled, 

 and can only be removed by actual force from their nests. 

 In some parts of the island, where they are more particularly 

 attended to, they build their nests on the roofs of the houses, 

 and become quite familiar with the inhabitants. The nests 

 are constructed of sea-weed, and lined with the finest down 

 plucked from their breasts. 



As soon as it is observed that the first eggs are laid, they 

 are removed, and the nests at the same time robbed of the 

 down and this is repeated a second or third time ; but it 

 is generally found, that if they are robbed more than twice, 

 they begin to desert the place, and if pillaged oftener, they 

 quit it entirely. 



A few days after the young Ducks leave the egg, they 

 proceed to the water, under the guidance of their dam, who 



