﻿EIDER DUCK. 



1 



birch- trees, juniper or lichens, and at intervals interspersed 

 with sand and shingle. 



In the month of March, the birds begin to pair, when 

 many a fight occurs between the males for the possession of 

 their mates. 



The call-note of the male sounds like oe, ou, yew, &c, and 

 is constantly repeated ; but before the beginning of May no 

 preparations for building are made : the more northward, the 

 later are these preparations. The nest is composed of grasses, 

 lichens, sea weeds, and sea grasses, which are heaped 

 up on each other indiscriminately, and is finally lined 

 with the well-known Eider down. The number of eggs 

 varies from four to eight, those breeding more towards the 

 south having the greater number ; their size, shape, and 

 colour are as represented in our plate. The female sits 

 about three weeks on the eggs, during which time the male 

 remains near her; but the care of the young is entirely 

 left to the mother after hatching, and the male resorts 

 to the sea, where he awaits his change of plumage. 



During the beginning of the existence of the young 

 brood, the mother leads them about the shallow inlets 

 of the sea, where they feed on the smaller kinds of crabs 

 and lobsters that are washed up by the tides ; from 

 time to time they swim further out to sea, and soon learn 

 to help themselves, by diving in deeper water, after which 

 they are left to shift for themselves. 



The down which is so much valued is obtained by robbing 

 the nests, and it forms a considerably lucrative business. 

 The Greenlanders leave most of the down upon the skins 

 which they dress, and by sewing them together make 

 shirts of them, which are worn with the down towards their 

 bodies : this is a very warm and soft clothing, and protects 

 them securely from the cold of their inhospitable country. 



