EST AUDUBON'S LABRADOR 



nishes ^ — as a very conservative estimate ' — 

 from an ounce to an ounce and a third of down, 

 therefore twelve to sixteen nests or breeding 

 females are needed for each pound. Burton 

 states that the annual supply of down in Ice- 

 land rose from two thousand pounds in 1806 to 

 seven thousand pounds in 1870. One can easily 

 understand the great value of this product even 

 if the producer receives only one half of the 

 retail price. He could count on at least fifty 

 cents a season for each breeding female in his 

 eider-fold. 



Imagine the pleasure as well as profit that 

 could be obtained along the coast of Labra- 

 dor, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Maine if 

 these birds were treated in the manner above 

 described and flocked and nested about the 

 habitations of man. Then, each dweller in suit- 

 able localities by the sea could have his oavti 

 flock of these beautiful birds — for the female 

 is as beautiful in her modest dress of shaded 

 and penciled brown as is the male in his strik- 

 ing raiment of jet-black and cream- and snow- 

 white, delicate sea-green and dark navy-blue. 

 The cooing notes, so long few or absent in many 

 places, would again resound over the waters, 

 314 



