374 



COMMON EIDER. 



markably tame in the breeding season. Hewitson, 

 speaking of a visit to one of the islands on the coast 

 of Norway, says : " An old man who had the care of 

 the island, and seemed to derive much pleasure from 

 the charge, accompanied us all over his preserves, 

 pointing out to us the Ducks as they sat around us, 

 apparently heedless of our near approach, and on 



COMMON EIDER. 



quite familiar terms with our companion, who would 

 even stroke them on the back, and was very jealous 

 lest we should fire our guns and thus scare his pets ". 

 The nests of the Eider are generally built on the 

 rocks of some small unfrequented island, or amongst 

 the heath on the gentle slopes near the sea. The 



