ANATINiE — THE DUCKS — SOMATERIA. 



79 



The Eider can easily l)e domesticated, especially when raised from the egg, becoming 

 accustomed to feed on corn and meal, and is as tame and contented in confinement as 

 tlic JIallard. It is necessary, however, that the bird be provided with an abun- 

 dant supply of gravel and of varied food. The cry of the female when startled from 

 her nest is described as being 

 a hoarse rolling croak. The 

 food of this species consists 

 largely of shellHsh, the shells 

 of which are broken in pieces 

 by the muscular gizzards of 

 the birds, aided by coarse 

 gravel. 



Dr. Henry Ihyant, who vis- 

 ited Labrador in the summer 

 of 18G0, gives an interest- 

 ing account of his observa- 

 tions on the breeding of the 

 Eider on that coast. We 

 c(i])y substantially his narra- 

 tive. II(! found it still breed- 

 ing in great almndance along 

 the whole extent of the shore, 

 some nt'sts being jdaced under 

 the shelter of the dwarf-firs 

 and junipers, although the 

 favt)rite breeding-places were 

 the little grassy islands 

 found in bays, and particu- 

 larly those where small spots 

 of i.'.'-f were j)rotected by a 

 vovk from the i)revailing 

 wind. On many islajids an 

 luubelliferous ])lant grows 

 altiuidantly, the shelter of 

 whose thick foliage these l)irds seemed to prefer. It was not oflen that many nests 

 were found on one island — from om- to a dozen being the ordinar}- number; but 

 on (iieenlet I.sliind he found over si.\ty ; and tliis was probably not a (punier of the 

 wliole nund)i'r. This inland was iieculiarly well adapted to tiie wants of this Duck, 

 being covered with a thick growth of this umbelliferous jdant, but slightly elevated 

 above the water, and at a distance from tiie mainland. He found on tiiis island a 

 nest in a small stone hut made for the purpose (,f concealing the hunters in the 

 spring. ^lany nests were seen in which tiie down was cpiite cltnm, and he believed 

 that it is always so if the bird is undisturbed; but after the nest has been frecpuMitly 

 robl)ed, the supi)ly of this materiiil is not suflicicnt. and whatever snitstitnte is most 

 convenient has to be taken in its ])Uu'e : so thiit, late in the season, nests are fouml 

 without any down. Some contained fresh eggs, ami others were only just linished, 

 as late ac the middle of July. AudulK)n states that the eggs are deposited on 

 the grass, etc., of which tht! nest is jirincipaliy coni|)osed; Dr, Hryant, however, did 

 not see a single instance in which this had been done, provich'd tle-re was any down ; 

 and nearly every da}', during the first week or two, he found nests containing freshly 



Female. 



