666 



CLASS AVES. 



tries, against the rigour of which they are sufficiently pro 

 tected by the thick covering of their so much celebrates 

 down. Though not so numerous as formerly, these birds are 

 still found in great quantities in Iceland, in Lapland, in 

 Greenland, in Spitzbergen, and Kamtschatka. They even 

 pass into America, and are to be seen in the country of the 

 Esquimaux, in Canada, in the Miquelon Islands, in New 

 England, and even in New York. 



The European countries, beside those already mentioned, 

 which they most frequent, are Sweden, Denmark, the He- 

 brides, and the Orkneys ; but they are not to be seen upon 

 the coasts of the ocean. 



The eiders feed on fish, shell-fish, insects, and marine 

 plants. They show themselves very greedy after the entrails 

 of fish, which the fishermen cast out of their boats. They 

 keep the sea the entire winter, only returning to land in the 

 evening. Their return to the coast is regarded as a presage 

 of bad weather. 



These birds nestle on lands washed by the sea, on capes, 

 rocks, &c. Under the shelter of some stones they place their 

 nest, the basis of which is composed of fucus, and the male 

 and female labour at it together. The latter finally covers 

 the bottom and sides with the down which she plucks from 

 herself, and heaps it up until she forms a thick padding all 

 around, which she turns down upon the eggs when she goes 

 to seek for food. The male does not partake the incuba- 

 tion, but stands sentinel in the neighbourhood of the nest, to 

 warn the female of danger. In case of alarm, she first con- 

 ceals her head, and does not fly away until the moment in 

 which flight becomes necessary. The eggs, of an olive-green, 

 are five or six in number, and are considered good eating. 

 When these eggs, and the down with which they are covered, 

 are taken away, the female will deplume herself a second 

 time to furnish the nest, and will have a second brood, less 



