﻿EIDER DUCK. 131 



by the Eider Duck, it is only necessary to add that the bird 

 in question only resides on or near the sea, fresh water being 

 not only unpalatable but even injurious to its nature and 

 constitution ; on the mouths of rivers where the water is salt, 

 and in bays of all dimensions, it is numerous, and even on 

 the wide ocean, far from any shore. Small islands that slope 

 gradually into the sea, the Eider Duck chooses by preference ; 

 there they may be seen to sun themselves on the sands dur- 

 ing fine weather, in the morning. 



Their time of roosting is the middle of the day, which 

 is most frequently enjoyed on the liquid element ; during the 

 night this bird is chiefly employed in feeding, and its move- 

 ments from place to place are performed morning and evening. 



The general appearance of the male Eider Duck is very 

 conspicuous, and it cannot be mistaken for any of its 

 neighbours, but the female resembles that of the Velvet 

 Scoter in point of colouring. When this species is on 

 the wing, it is more conspicuous than most others, on account 

 of its bulky form, thick head, and short neck, and its flight 

 is heavy. Its walk on shore is very unsteady, and evidently 

 performed with great exertion ; it becomes, therefore, a 

 necessary duty to take wing on the approach of danger. 

 The watery element is its proper place, and consequently 

 the bird is very expert in swimming and diving. 



In the search after its food this species is obliged to 

 resort to more shallow waters than those visited by the 

 Scoter, as it is unable to remain so long under the surface 

 for want of air ; nevertheless it feeds on shell-fish and other 

 marine productions that are known to lie from thirty to forty 

 feet deep. Mussels, small crabs, sea-leaches, small fishes, 

 their spawn, and the entrails of fish that are left by gulls, are 

 eagerly looked for by this species, but vegetable matter is 

 not among its food. 



M 3 



