144 



KEARTONS' NATURE PICTURES 



EIDER DUCK'S NEST. 



reared in a London park and one bred 

 in a Hampshire wood. At the Fame 

 Islands I have on several occasions 

 stroked Eider Ducks on the back whilst 

 they sat stolidly covering their eggs, and, 

 so far as I could see, without in the least 

 disturbing their equanimity. At places 

 where they do not enjoy protection, 



however, I have tried in vain to get near 

 enough to take a photograph. 



This species feeds by day upon shell- 

 fish, small crustaceans, crabs, and marine 

 insects, which are dived after with great 

 celerity and ease. Whilst sitting upon 

 high rocks overlooking a translucent sea, 

 I have observed Eiders making use of 

 their wings when under water in a way 

 that suggested a modified form of flight. 



The nest consists of dry seaweed, 

 sprigs of heather and bits of dead grass, 

 with an inner lining of down plucked 

 from the bird's own body. This increases 

 in quantity as laying proceeds, and is 

 used to cover the eggs whenever the 

 duck leaves them of her own accord. The 

 eggs number from four to eight, and are 

 of a pale greyish green colour. When the 

 females commence to sit, the males leave 

 them, and may be seen swimming in 

 companies in the vicinity of the breeding 

 ground. The young ones, if compelled to 

 take to the open sea in rough weather, 

 swim in a bunch close behind their mother, 

 in order to enjoy the shelter of her body. 



