ANATIX.E — THE DUCKS — SOJfATKRIA. 



75 



fcHitly ■wl>'te with drakes, who weh-oineil tht-ir brown wives with h)U(l and olamoroiis 

 cooing. The lioiise itself was a marvel. The ejivthen walls that surrounded it and 

 tlie window endu-jisui-es were oi-eupied In- Ducks. On tlio ground the house was 

 fringed with Dueks. On *he t\irf slopes of its roof ive eould see Ducks, and a Duck 

 sat on the door-seraper. The grassy banks had been cut into square jjatches, aliout 

 eightee.. inches having been renio' od, and each ludlow had been filled with Dueks. 

 A windmill was infested, and so weu' all the outhouses, mounds, rocks, and crevices. 

 The Ducks were everywhere. Many wer so tamo that we could stroke them on their 

 nests ; and the good lady told us that there was scarcely a Duck on the ishind that 

 would not allow her to take its eggs without flight or fear. Our hostess told us that 

 when she first became possessor of the ishind the produ(;e of down from the Ducks 

 was nf)t more than fifteen pounds in a year ; but that under her careful nurture of 

 twenty years, it had risen to nearly a hundred pounds annually. Most of the eggs 

 arc taken and pickled for winter consumption, one or two only being left in each nest 

 to hatch." 



The Eider is indigenous to the northern portions of (Jreat Britain; but is only a 

 winter visitor, and in very limited numbers, to the soutluMii portions, and is rarely 

 met with in Ireland. It is of rare occurrence on the coast of France. 



On the Farn Islands, off the northeastern coast of England, the Eider formerly 

 bred regularly. Mr. Selby visited these islands, and has given an interesting account 

 of his observations. In April these birds assemlded in groups along the shores of 

 tlic mainland, and crossed over to the islands early in May. Tiie females began to 

 lay al)out the 20th, when the males all deserted them, returning to the adjoining 

 coast. The nests were made of fine seaweed; and as incubation proceeded, a lining 

 of down plucked by the bird from her own Inuly Wiis added. This increased from day 

 to day, and became so considerable in cpiantity as to envelop and entirely conc»'al 

 tlie eggs frou> view. Incubation lasted alM)ut a month, and the young as soon as 

 liatclied were conducted to the water ; and, in many instances, this could oidy lie done 

 by the parent carrying tlieni in her bill. The fooil of tlie Eider consists of the differ- 

 ent mussels ami otlu'r kinds of bivalves, with whit li the rocks are covered. This bird 

 can be reared with ditticulty in confinement, and does not walk on the land readily. 

 It dives with great facility, an<l remains submerged a long while. 



The ^lessrs. God man found this the most common Duck about Hodo, in Norway, 

 and mention finding several pairs that were breeding on a marsh, near a fresh-water 

 lake, several miles from tlie sea. 



Dr. Walker mot with Ducks «>f this siweies on the coast of Greenland, near Godt- 

 hiuib; anil at HeUot's Strait he sawtiicni beginning to assendile, in the ])oolsof water, 

 early in June. This is also cited by Professor Kcinliardt as a resiih'nt species of 

 (ireeiiland. Ilearne states tluit it was khown, in his day, as the " Dunter (ioose " in 

 the Hudson's Hay Region. It was common alxiiit the mouth of the C'liurchill Kiver 

 as soon as tlie ice broke up; but generally i! 'W farther north to breed, the few that 

 dill remain about the settlement there b"ing so scattered among small islands and sea- 

 girt rocks and shoals as to vender it not worth while to gather their down. Their 

 oggs were exceedingly good eating; and in the fall of the year their flesji was by no 

 means unpleasant, although this bird is known to feed on fish. 



Mr. Kir.'ilien mentions this as tlie most abundant Duck at CumlH'rland. The old 

 males, sejiarating from the females and young as Hoon as the breeding-season is over, 

 assemblo in large Hocks and migrate southward 'luch earlier than the latter. This 

 Duck can endure any temiM-rature where it can find <<iien water. On one occivsion an 

 adult malfl was seen in the tide rifts in .lanuary, with the tlu'rmometer at flO" ; but 



