—— 
EIDER DUCK. 615 
It is a very quick diver, so as to make it difficult to b¢ shot; flies. 
also with great rapidity, and utters a note not unlike that :.f the Mal- 
lard, but louder; is fond of salines and ponds overgrow: with reeds 
and rushes; feeds during the day, as well as in the morning and 
evening. 
EIDER DUCK.— ANAS MOLLISSIMA.—Fic. 294.— Maze. 
L’Oye a duvet, ou I'Eider, Briss. vi. p. 294, pl. 29, 3. — Buff. ix. p- 103, pl. 6. 
Pl. enl. 209.— Great Black and White Duck, Edw. pl. 98. — Bewich, ii. p. 279. 
Arct. Zool. No. 480.— Lath. Syn. iii. p. 470. — Peale’s Museum, No. 2706. 
SOMATERIA MOLLISSIMA. — Lracu.* 
Anas mollissima, Linn. Syst. i. p. 198. Canard eider, Temm. Man. d’ Ornith. ii. 
p. 848. — Eider, or Cuthbert’s Duck, Mont. Ornith. Dict. i.and Supp. — Eider, 
Selby, Iilust. Br. Ornith. p. 70.— Fuligula, (sub-gen. somateria) mollissima, 
Bonap. Synop. p. 388. —Somateria mollissima, ‘North. Zool. ii. p., 448. 
Tur Eider Duck has been long celebrated in Europe, for the abun- 
dance and excellence of its down, which, for softness, warmth, light- 
ness, and elasticity, surpasses that of all other Ducks. The quantity 
found in one nest more than filled the crown of a hat, yet weighed no 
more than three quarters of an ounce;+ and it is asserted, that three 
pounds of this down may be compressed into a space scarce bigger 
* This other form among the Anatide was proposed by Dr. Leach, and will con- 
tain only two species, the Eider and King Ducks, both common to Europe and Amer- 
ica. It is very well marked, and possesses some peculiarities. The birds are truly 
Sea Ducks, keep entirely to that element, and breed on its shores or islands, and are 
never, as Dr. Richardson remarks, seen on fresh water. The form is thick, rather 
flat and heavy ; the plumage of the males possesses decided contrasting colors of 
black and white ; the females, reddish brown ; the plumage of the head projects far 
upon the base of the bill, and is of a thick, silky texture, which can be raised or 
swelled at pleasure, so as to increase the apparent size of the head and neck, and in 
both species exhibits remarkable colors, not often seen among birds, and very diffi- 
cult for colorists to represent — pistachia green, and a pleasing du!! shade of blue 
_verditer. In the scapulars of the Anatide, we have already seen a variable struc- 
ture ; they are here of considerable breadth, rigid texture, and curve over the quills, 
as if curled with an iron. The feet are placed far back, and show great powers for 
diving. The males undergo a change of plumage, and leave the females as soon 
as they have commenced sitting, when they may be seen in large flocks by them- 
selves ;.they commence their migrations much sooner than the females. It is to this 
bird, that we are pee indebted for the valuable Eider down, though many 
others of the northern aquatic fowl produce one equally fine, which is ofien mixed 
with it. Lemmius remarks, that the Eiders are in immense profusicn on the coasts 
of Norway and Lapland ; when hatching, the eggs are often the pre y of the Crows 
and of Larus marinus, who drag the female from her nest, and destroy them or the 
young. The male, however, if he perceives the assault, makes furious attacks, and 
sometimes succeeds in beating them off. They are very familiar, building close to 
the houses of the fishermen ; the female will even allow herself to be lifted from the 
eggs and set down again ; and sometimes a countryman will carry the young in his 
hat from the nest to the sea, the Duck running by his side, moaning gently with 
anxiety. — Ep. 
+ PENNANT. 
