BRITISH BIRDS. 



319 



THE EIDER DUCK. 



ST. CUTHBERT'S DUCK. 



(. in ns MollissiiiK^ Linn. Canard Eider ; Temm.) 



THIS wild, but valuable, species is of a size 

 between the Goose and the Domestic Duck. The 

 full-grown old males generally measure about two 

 feet two inches in length, and three feet four in 

 breadth, and weigh from six to above seven pounds. 

 The head is large; the middle of the neck small, 

 with the lower part of it spread out very broad, so 

 as to form a hollow between the shoulders, which, 

 while the bird is sitting at ease, seem as if fitted to 

 receive its reclining head. The bill is of a dirty 

 yellowish horn colour, darkish in the middle, and 

 measures from the tip to the corners of the mouth, 

 two inches and a half: the upper mandible is 

 forked in a singular manner towards each eye, 

 and is covered with white feathers on the sides, as 



