Eider-Duck 
^7 
Echinorhynchus polymorphus, Brems ; Distomum constrichim, Mehlis ; Monostonitim 
alveatum, Mehlis ; Monostomum Jlavum, Mehlis ; Holostoinum erraticti7n, Duj ; Notocotyle 
triserialis, Dies : Taenia tenuirosfris, Rud ; Taenia microsoma, Crepl ; Taenia teres, 
Krabbe ; Taenia fallax, Krabbe ; Distomum somaterice, Levinsen ; Distomum pygmceum, 
Levinsen ; Notocotyle triserialis, Dies. 
The eggs of the Eider are much sought after for food by the inhabitants of the far north, 
in spite of the fact that they have a somewhat rancid and oily flavour. In many places, such 
as Denmark and Norway, it is not actually forbidden to take the eggs, so the nests are often 
robbed twice, until in fact there is only one egg left.^ In Northern Norway, the Faeroes, 
Iceland, and Greenland, the nests are plundered as often as occasion suits the natives, some- 
times without regard to future consequences. The most important economic use of the 
Eider is the down, which is surpassed by no other material in lightness and softness, and is 
therefore greatly prized for the stuffing of quilts, cushions, and pillows. The down of the 
Eider is superior to that of swans, geese, and other ducks, and only that of the Sheld-Duck 
bears any comparison to it in quality, if we except that of the King-Eider. Each single spray 
of down is brownish-grey, being whitish towards the root. It clings closely together : so 
much so, that it is difficult to separate. Nevertheless it never becomes lumpy, or in any 
sense hard, and can therefore be compressed within a small space. Yet a cushion once 
freed expands again quickly, and is always warm to the touch. Its value, therefore, for all 
forms of stuffing where warmth and lightness are essential, is very great, and the material, 
once cleansed and made up, always commands a good price. Five pounds of eider-down is 
sufficient to stuff a whole mattress for a bed, and in Germany, where it is much used, i lb. 
of cleansed down fetches from 4 to 5 thalers. 
In places where the collection of the down is a regular industry, such as in Denmark 
and the west of Norway, no shooting is permitted near the breeding colonies, nor are any 
dogs allowed to approach. The less these places are visited by human beings the better 
these birds thrive, but they soon become trustful and confiding in the proximity of persons 
whom they have learnt by experience will do them no harm, and Eiders will even breed in 
shelters provided for them quite close to buildings. The eider-down that is collected from 
the nests is what the female plucks from her breast and belly. It is heaped up all round 
her as she sits, and forms a compact wreath. This down seems to be of better quality than 
that which is afterwards plucked from the breasts of the birds after they have been killed, 
because it is procured when it is in its most suitable condition. The down is generally 
collected from the nests immediately the young have left, but some men are so greedy to 
secure a larger share that they take it once and even twice whilst the female is making her 
pile around her, and so she is frequently rendered bare on the under parts owing to repeated 
pluckings. It has been said that under such circumstances the male comes to the rescue 
and furnishes his quota of down to help his wife, but this seems to be only a pretty story 
which has no foundation in fact. Down taken from the nest is cleaner than down plucked 
by man, yet it is always intermixed with particles of dry grass, heather, moss, sea-grass, or 
sea-weed, and has to be thoroughly cleansed before it is marketable. This is effected by 
rubbing, pulling apart, and shaking between the hands after being dried in the sun, and in 
1 In Iceland the nests are not robbed of all the eggs, but two or three are always left, and the rest taken. This is done with 
great care, the eggs being marked with indelible pencil to ensure the removal of fresh eggs only. 
