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in the northern parts of our country, and does not breed 

 more than about twenty miles south of the Pern Islands in 

 Firth of For tli. On the northern shores of Europe it is 

 found in profusion, and is also distributed around the shores 

 of North America, but does not range further south than 

 the vicinity of New York. Islands are generally preferred 

 for breeding on, but sometimes sandbanks along the sea- 

 shore and hollows in rocks on the mainland are also re- 

 sorted to for this purpose. The nest, formed at first of 

 seaweed and grass, is subsequently lined with soft elastic 

 down from the breast of the bird, but this is not added till 

 the whole or the greater portion of the eggs have been laid. 

 When the bird quits its nest, the eggs are covered over, 

 before the down has been introduced into the nest, with 

 grass and leaves, afterwards with down. A single bird does 

 not lay more than five eggs, which are of a very pale 

 greenish colour, but occasionally two birds deposit their 

 eggs in the same nest and sit amicably together. In Ice- 

 land, where these birds breed in great numbers, the down 

 with which their nests are lined is made an article of com- 

 merce, and for the purpose of gathering it the nests are 

 visited two or three times in a season. The Eider Duck, 

 during the breeding season, will permit great nearness of 



