258 
The Eider Duck is nearly twice the 
size of the common Dock. 
Authors agree in opinion that the male 
of this species does not arrive at maturity 
of plumage till the fourth year. The male 
at one year old has been described as hav- 
ing white, as well as black markings on 
various parts of the plumage ; bat Capt. 
Sabine in the recent voyage to the Arctic 
Regions, procured a specimen killed in the 
month of June, which exactly corresponded 
with the female in colour, but, was much 
larger in size; it had no appearance of 
change from the brown plumage, and cer- 
tainly was not a bird of that year. 
The great body of these birds constantly 
resides in the remote northern, frozen climes, 
the rigours of which their thick cloathing 
well enables them to bear. They are said 
to keep together in flocks in the open part 
of the sea, (particularly during the winter 
season) fishing and diving very deep in 
quest of shell-fish and other food, with 
which the bottom is covered ; and when 
they have satisfied themselves, they retire 
to the shore, whither they at all times re- 
