EIDER DUCK. 



123 



them. The natives of those countries know the value of the down, 

 and carry on a regular system of plunder both of it and also of 

 the eggs. The nest is generally formed outwardly of drift grass, 

 dry sea weed, and such like materials, the inside composed of a 

 large quantity of down plucked from the breast of the female ; in 

 this soft elastic bed she deposits five eggs, extremely smooth and 

 glossy, of a pale olive color ; they are also warmly covered with 

 the same kind of down. When the whole number is laid, they 

 are taken away by the natives, and also the down with which the 

 nest is lined, together with that which covers the eggs. The fe- 

 male once more strips her breast of the remaining down, and lays 

 a second time ; even this, with the eggs is generally taken away, 

 and it is said that the male in this extremity furnishes the third 

 quantity of down from his own breast ; but if the cruel robbery be 

 a third time repeated, they abandon the place altogether. One 

 female, during the whole time of laying, generally gives half a 

 pound of down; and we are told, that in the year 1750, the Ice- 

 land Company sold as much of this article as amounted to three 

 thousand seven hundred and forty five banco dollars, besides what 

 w^as directly sent to Gluckstadt.^ The down from dead birds is 

 little esteemed, having lost its elasticity. 



These birds associate together in flocks, generally in deep 

 water, diving for shell fish, which constitute their principal food. 

 They frequently retire to the rocky shores to rest, particularly on 

 the appearance of an approaching storm. They are numerous on 

 the coast of Labrador, and are occasionally seen in winter as far 

 south as the capes of Delaware. Their flesh is esteemed by the 

 inhabitants of Greenland; but tastes strongly offish. 



The length of this species is two feet three inches, extent 

 three feet; weight between six and seven pounds; the head is 

 large, and the bill of singular structure, being three inches in 



^ Letters on Iceland, hj Uno Van Troil, p. 146. 



