EIDER DUCK. 255 



along the shore in companies of four or five together. 

 The usual number of eggs is five, of a pale asparagus- 

 green colour, of an oblong form, and not much less 

 than those of a goose, Wilson describes the eggs as of 

 a pale olive colour, and says they are extremely smooth 

 and glossy ; and Montagu calls the colour greenish 

 olive : it is important to notice these different accounts, 

 in order to guard against any mistakes of the people in 

 procuring the right sort. The nest, as examined by 

 jMr. Selby, is composed of dry grasses, mixed with a 

 quantity of the smaller Alg<T, or sea- weed ; and as incu- 

 bation proceeds, a lining of down, plucked by the bird 

 from her own body, is added. This addition is made 

 daily, and at last becomes so considerable a m.ass as to 

 envelope and entirely conceal the eggs ; contributing, 

 perhaps, by its effect as a non-conductor of heat, to 

 the perfect developement of the foetus ; and serving 

 also as a protection from gulls and other enemies. The 

 young, as soon as hatched, are conducted to the water, 

 which in some instances must be effected by the parent 

 conveying them in her bill; Mr. Selby having often seen 

 the nest in such situations as to preclude the possibility 

 of their arriving at it in any other way : and this has 

 been confirmed by the testimony of an eye-witness. 



Much has been written regarding the down of the 

 eider; the greatest part of which seems to be imported 

 from Iceland and the northern countries. Mr. Pennant 

 and Dr. Latham have been at much pains in collecting 

 a great many details from books, on this head, which it 

 is not necessary to repeat in this place. * Mr. Selby 

 remarks, that from the nests of two or three of these 

 birds he has frequently procured as much down as would 

 fill a middle-sized pillow; though this quantity, when 

 compressed, w^as not above two handfuls, and did not 

 weigh above an ounce. In Iceland, Greenland, Sec, 

 where the procuring of this substance is a support to 

 many people, the first eggs that are laid, together with 

 the down, is taken from them; but the next they are 



* See Lath. Gen. Hist. x. 2o4. 



