200 THE EIDER-DUCK. 



from land, but assembling, at the breeding-season, 

 in vast numbers, on most of the islands in the 

 North. As Iceland is one of their favourite haunts, 

 we cannot do better than collect our particulars 

 from a spot where they are probably better known 

 than anywhere else. There, as they are rarely 

 hurt or disturbed, they become surprisingly tame, 

 and allow persons to walk amongst their nests. 

 On approaching them, the Drakes, indeed, often 

 take alarm, and plunge with great precipitancy 

 into the water ; but the Ducks generally remain 

 sitting on their nests, or merely fly to the distance 

 of a yard or two, and on an attempt to touch 

 their eggs, return in a rage. Many of them suffer 

 themselves to be handled, and can only be re- 

 moved by actual force from their nests. In 

 some parts of the island, where they are more 

 particularly attended to, they build their nests on 

 the roofs of the houses, and become quite fami- 

 liar with^the inhabitants. The nests are constructed 

 of sea- weed, and lined with the finest down, plucked 

 from their breasts. 



As soon as it is observed that the first eggs are 

 laid, they are removed, and the nests at the same 

 time robbed of the down ; and this is repeated a 

 second or a third time ; but it is generally found, 

 that if they are robbed more than twice, they begin 

 to desert the place, and if pillaged oftener, they quit 

 it entirely. 



A few days after the young Ducks leave the egg, 

 they proceed to the water, under the guidance of 

 their dam, who swims with them on her back to 

 some distance, when, making a sudden dive, she 



