l6o CASSELL'S BOOK OF BIRDS. 



of these Ducks is supposed to be derived from the river Eider, dividing the duchy of Holstein from 

 Lower Schleswig, they are in reality seldom found south of the sixty-third degree of north latitude, 

 from which point to the North Cape they are met with in vast numbers all along the coast and in the 

 fiords that indent it in ever)' direction, stretching sometimes 200 miles inland. The northern shores 

 of Russia, Siberia, and the same latitudes of North America, are also inhabited by these valuable 

 fowls. 



The Eider Ducks are strictly sea-birds ; upon dry land they walk with extreme difficulty, and as 

 they clumsily waddle along often stumble and fall down flat on the ground. Their flight seems difficult 

 and fatiguing, requiring the sustained rapid action of their proportionately short wings. They rarely 

 rise to any height in the air, but wing their way straight down into the water beneath, and it is only 

 when they reach this, their proper element, that they begin to show what are their real capabilities. 

 They swim with the body less deeply immersed than the generality of Diving Ducks, but their 

 movements are quicker than those of any of their congeners. 



The breeding-time of the Eider Ducks is rather late in the season, generally towards the end of 

 May, sometimes in June or July ; about this period they assemble upon certain small islands, 

 apparently selected because they are easily accessible ; the birds then separate into pairs, each pair 

 proceeding at once to chose a place for establishing its nest, the principal conditions required being 

 seclusion and safety. In localities where the birds are tended as though they were private property, 

 the owners of the islands to which they resort take care to furnish a supply of old boxes, platforms 

 built with stones, boards covered with brushwood, and other similar conveniences for breeding. 



Though shy enough before, the birds now become wonderfully tame and fearless ; they not only 

 unhesitatingly take possession of the platforms, boxes, ledges, and other contrivances prepared for 

 them, but allow themselves to be driven to the most suitable places, without being at all alarmed or 

 disturbed at the presence of their conductors. They come into the immediate neighbourhood of the 

 solitary huts of their keepers, and will enter them in search of a snug corner in which to build ; 

 indeed, it not unfrequently happens that adventurous females will take possession of bedrooms, 

 stables, and other similar localities, to the great inconvenience and discomfort of the keeper's wife. 

 At first the male bird always accompanies his mate in these pedestrian excursions in search of 

 lodgings, which generally occupy them during the morning ; about noon they fly away towards the 

 fiords or swim about upon the open sea ; but towards evening they come on shore to pass the night. 

 While the female is employed in laying her eggs, the male watches over the nest with great 

 perseverance and devotion ; but no sooner is the number of eggs complete, and the female begins in 

 earnest the work of incubation, than the male flies off, leaving both nest and wife, and hastens to join 

 the society of other males who may be disporting themselves far out at sea. Upon the rocks and 

 "scaars" upon the coast of Norway these forlorn widowers may be seen playing together by hundreds. 

 The nest of the Eider Duck is a very simple affair, consisting merely of a few twigs, stalks of sea- 

 weed, blades of grass, straw, and similar materials, such as can be picked up in the immediate 

 neighbourhood, heaped together in the most slovenly manner ; the rougher the framework, however, 

 so much thicker and more valuable is the rich lining of down— the costly toll which the breeding 

 birds have to pay to the masters of the soil for their temporary residence. After the lapse of a few 

 days, the female sits most assiduously ; in places where she is accustomed to the sight of men she will 

 not stir even should they approach her nest ; she simply bows her head to the ground, and slightly 

 spreads her wings so as to make herself as inconspicuous as possible. The colour of her plumage 

 generally coincides so exactly with that of the surrounding rocks, that to an unpractised eye the bird 

 is with difficulty distinguishable from the ground on which it sits. We have more than once had 

 convincing proof of the efficacy of this mode of concealment, in the shape of a sharp bite on the leg, 



