COMMON EIDER. 619 



The male Elder is rarely if ever seen near the nest, but may generally he 

 observed at no great distance, either standing on the rocks or swimming in 

 company with several other drakes in the sheltered creeks or on the open 

 sea. Incubation lasts about a month, and during that time the drake 

 never ventures to approach the nest, but swims about in company with 

 other drakes whose mates are also nesting in the neighbourhood ; and when 

 the female covers up her eggs and leaves the nest to feed, he is ever on the 

 watch to join her, and the pair may be seen swimming side by side until 

 the female returns to the nest. Whenever she takes flight he is careful to 

 accompany her, and follows rather than leads her from one feeding-ground 

 to another. This attendance on the female becomes less and less assiduous 

 until he begins to moult, generally about the time that the eggs are 

 hatched, when he apparently considers his duties to be at an end, 

 and deserts his mate and young for a month or more, during which he 

 assumes a dress resembling that of the duck, for the purpose of rendering 

 himself less conspicuous during the important process of moulting his 

 quill- and tail-feathers, when he is unable to fly. 



The young, as soon as possible after they are hatched, are conveyed to 

 the water by their mother. It is probable that in some cases, where the 

 nests are at a high elevation or at some distance from the water, the mother 

 carries her ducklings to the sea in her bill, although the act has never been 

 witnessed by any trustworthy observer. The young birds have many 

 enemies. The large Gulls endeavour to carry them off 1 , but are often 

 driven away by the anxious duck ; and in some localities the otter captures 

 many of them. When alarmed, the little creatures start boldly out to sea, 

 alternately swimming and diving. When fatigued, the old Eider often 

 takes them on her back by sinking herself low in the water. The Eider 

 only rears one brood in the year, but to do this it is often compelled to lay 

 several clutches of eggs. 



In winter the Eider congregates into flocks, but many pairs live by 

 themselves. In our islands the flocks consist of from eight to twenty 

 birds; but in countries where this species is more abundant they are 

 frequently very large. When once they find a spot suited to their habits, 

 they usually remain for a considerable time. These flocks of Eiders keep 

 much to themselves, rarely joining other ducks, and are approached 

 with difficulty. Although so conspicuous on a calm sea, the male Eider is 

 one of the most difficult birds to see, even at a short distance, if the water 

 be at all rough. The flesh of the Eider is by no means unpalatable, though 

 rather dark. 



Eider-down is a highly prized article of commerce, and in some places, 

 especially in Norway, Iceland, and Greenland, the birds are strictly pro- 

 tected for the profit they yield. By judiciously removing the eggs and 

 doAvn from the nests the birds arc made to lay again, and furnish a fresh 



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