1 6 British Diving Ducks 
though the female may be confounded with the female Velvet-Scoter if it is not in 
flight, in which case the white secondaries of the latter at once determine the species. 
At short range, however, the long shape of the head of the female Eider is very noticeable. 
The flight is easy and rapid, and though they have some difficulty in rising, and display 
a certain clumsiness if there is no wind, it is strong and well sustained once the bird 
is fairly launched. It is generally performed at a height of from ten to twenty yards above 
the water and is very direct, without swaying from side to side as so many diving ducks 
do. They never pass over rocks or strips of land if they can possibly help it, and the shots 
that a shore gunner gets at these birds are few indeed. 
There is an old fable, common alike in Norway and our northern isles, that if an 
Eider accidentally loses sight of the sea its powers of flight are gone, and that it stands 
on the land in a state of bewilderment, and so will allow itself to be taken by hand. 
This legend doubtless has its origin in birds that have on migration descended on rough 
ground from which they could not rise and were therefore captured, for the northern 
peasants have always noted how tenaciously the Eider keeps to the sea-coast in flight, 
and how rarely it ever flies except above the water. When passing from one bay to 
another. Eiders follow all the indentations of the coast rather than cross the narrowest 
neck of land. 
On alighting in the water they often descend abruptly or glide into the sea with a 
great splash, seemingly careless of consequences. I have seen them hit the water and 
pass underneath for a yard or two as if enjoying the pleasure of resting again in their 
natural element. They are happy, joyous, affectionate birds in all their attitudes towards 
each other, and show less fear of man than any other sea-birds once they have known 
the meaning of protection, for both in confinement and in a wild state they are of a most 
confiding disposition to all whom they have learned to trust. 
When standing still the back is carried in a horizontal position, but in their slow 
and rolling walk they hold the breast more erect, and this is still more the case if they 
are harried or frightened. But this position with the tail raised and the primaries dropped 
is only maintained for a few yards, then they sink forward, pick themselves up again and 
hurry forward with lowered head and neck. By this time they have probably reached the 
water, but if this is not the case they take to flight at once off the land, apparently 
dissatisfied with their slow mode of progression. Poor walkers as they are, the Eiders 
make up for their want of skill on land by their dexterity in the water. In swimming and 
diving they are surpassed by no other species of diving duck, being capable of holding 
their own in the roughest breakers, and diving to a great depth for food. It has been 
proved that they can take their food regularly at a depth of 25 to 35 feet and more without 
inconvenience. Any gunner who has wounded an Eider in a rough sea knows how easily 
it becomes lost to sight, whilst even in perfectly smooth water it is wonderful how this bird 
can hide itself, and scarcely make a ripple as it touches the surface only to disappear again. 
I have several times followed the progression of an Eider under water in my gunning 
punt, by giving directions to my puntsman as I observed the line of direction pursued 
by the bird under water. This was only possible in perfectly still weather, and in some 
place where the water was not too deep. When much frightened the Eider invariably used 
its wings, but without in any way extending the primaries. This additional assistance 
