472 DUG K. 



on the ground/of a pale green colour, and gloffyj which the female 

 fecures from cold in a bed of fine down, plucked from her breaft. 

 This down is of the lighted and warmeft nature of any thing yet 

 known * : the natives, who know its value, take care to plunder 

 the nefts, taking away both the down and eggs : when the Duck 

 lays again, furnifhing a fecond parcel of down, her laft ftock; for 

 if file is robbed a fecond time, the male muft fupply the warm co- 

 vering ; but if a third theft be committed fhe will wholly defert 

 the place. 



In America this bird is found as far fouth as .New Tork; and 

 breeds on the defert ifies of New England; but moft com- 

 mon every where to the north. Are faid to be conftant to the 

 fame breeding-places, and that a pair has been obferved to occupy 

 the fame neft for twenty years together. Their food \s Jhells, for 

 which they dive to great depths. Very numerous in the Efqui- 

 maux lands ; but lefs fo in the middle fettlements. Called by the 

 firft Mettek. In Greenland are known by the fame name j\ The 



* The quantity of down found in one neft more than filled the crown of an 

 hat, yet weighed no more than three quarters of an ounce. Br. Zool. — -Three 

 pounds of this down may be comprefTed into a fpace fcarce bigger than one's 

 f,ji \ yet is afterwards fo dilatable as to fill a quilt five feel fquare. Salern. Orn. 

 p. 416. — That found in the nefts is moft valued, and termed live down; it is in- 

 finitely more elaftic than that plucked from the dead bird, which is little efteem- 

 ed in Iceland. The beft fort is fold at forty-five fi/h per pound, when cleanfed, 

 and zxfixteen when not cleanfed. There are generally exported every year, on 

 the Company's account, fifeen hundred or two thoufand ptunds, of both forts, ex- 

 clufive of what is privately exported by foreigners. In 1750 the Iceland Company 

 fold as much in quantity of this article as amounted to three thoufand feven hun- 

 dred and forty-fi-ve banco-dollars, befides what was fent direftly to Gluckfiadt. 

 ''—Von Troil. p. 1 46. 



■j- Crantst. Hift. Greenl. 



natives 



