BRITISH BIRDS. 321 



plucked from her own breast, and sometimes from 

 that of her mate. The ground work or foundation 

 of the nest is formed of bent grass, sea-weeds, or 

 such like coarse materials, and it is placed in as 

 sheltered a spot as the bleak and solitary place 

 can afford. 



In Greenland, Iceland, Spitzbergen, Lapland, and 

 some parts of the coasts of Norway, the Eiders 

 flock together, in particular breeding places, in 

 such numbers, and their nests are so close together, 

 that a person in walking along can hardly avoid 

 treading upon them. The natives of these cold 

 climates eagerly watch the time when the first 

 hatchings of the eggs are laid : of these they rob 

 the nest, and also of the most important article,, 

 the down with which it is lined, which they care- 

 fully gather and carry off. These birds will after- 

 wards strip themselves of their remaining down, 

 and lay a second hatching, of which also they are 

 sometimes robbed : but it is said, that when this 

 cruel treatment is too often repeated, they leave the 

 place and return to it no more.* The quantity of 



* The following particulars, from Von Troil's Letters on Iceland, 

 are given on account of the singular trait of character which is men- 

 tioned that of two females occupying only one nest : 



"The Eider birds build their nest on little islands not far from the 

 shore, and sometimes even near the dwellings of the natives, who 

 treat them with such kindness and circumspection as to make them 

 quite tame. In the beginning of June they lay five or six eggs, and 

 it is not unusual to find from ten to sixteen eggs in one nest, with 

 two females, who agree remarkably well together. The whole time 

 of laying continues six or seven weeks, during which time the natives 

 visit the nest for the purpose of taking the down and eggs, at least 

 once a week. They first carefully remove the female, and then take 

 away the down and part of the eggs; after which she lays afresh , 



VOL. II. 2 S 



