412 
RURAL HOURS. 
some birds, with much white in their plumage, and are very gen- 
tle and familiar. Dr. De Kay thinks they might easily be do- 
mesticated in this part of the country. The female plucks the 
down from her own breast, for the purpose of making a soft nest 
for her young ; but after she has laid a number of eggs, these 
and the down are both removed, the eggs being very palatable. 
The patient creature then re -hues her nest with the last down on 
her breast, and lays a few more eggs ; again both down and eggs 
are taken by greedy man ; the poor mother has now no more 
down to give, so the male bird steps forward, and the nest is 
lined a third time. Two or three eggs are then laid, and the 
poor creatures are permitted to raise these — not from any kindly 
feeling, but to lure them back to the same spot again the fol- 
lowing year, for they like to haunt familiar ground. Their nests 
are made of sea- weed and moss ; Mr. Audubon saw many of 
them in Labrador. When the young are hatched, the mother 
frequently carries them on her back to the water; and when 
they are once afloat, none of them return permanently to the 
land that season. The down is so very elastic, that a ball of it 
held in the hand will expand and fill a foot-covering for a large 
bed. It is always taken from the live birds, if possible, that from 
the dead bird being much less elastic ; and for this reason, they 
are seldom killed. 
here are still two or three birds of old European fame, or 
otherwise interesting, found occasionally in our neighborhood ; to 
these we must give a word or two when we have leisure. 
Wednesday, Qth. — Green and reddish leaves are yet hanging 
on the scarlet honeysuckles, the Greville and Scotch roses ; and 
a few are also left on tlie little weeping-willow. 
