THE DUCK. 211 



The inhabitants of these countries, who live near 

 the sea shore, make it a part of their business to plun- 

 der these poor birds of their eggs, and their down. 

 The e^gs, during the spring, they use as food in their 

 families, and by the sale of the down, they every year 

 obtain considerable sums of money. 



The nests of these Ducks are formed of dry grass, 

 and sea-weed, lined on the inside with down, which 

 the female plucks from her breast for this purpose. 

 In the nest, thus made soft, and warm, she lays five 

 eggs, which she also covers with down. The inhabit- 

 ants, having found these nests while building, they 

 know when to visit them again, arid after the eggs are 

 all laid, they go and take them away, together with 

 the down which covers them, as well as that with 

 \vhich the nest is lined. The female then begins 

 again, and a second time strips her breast, lines her 

 riest with the down, and lays another nest of eggs ; 

 but again she is deprived of both, by the same hand 

 that plundered her before. Once more the poor bird, 

 in her anxiety to raise a family, begins to prepare a 

 place to hatch them, but her breast being naked, can 

 afford no down, with which to furnish it. In this ex- 

 tremity, it is said, the male kindly interposes for her 

 relief, and plucks his own breast, to give her the pro- 

 per quantity of down. Even this, these cruel robber* 

 sometimes take away ; then the birds, finding that no 

 mercy is shewn them, leave the place entirely, and 

 seek a more secret situation where they can raise 

 their brood in safety. 



One Duck it is said, will furnish a half a pound of 

 down in a season, and this is so valuable as to sell fgr 



