261 
Under each of them were two or four* 
eggs : the latter is the number they lay, 
but from many of them two had been 
taken for food by the natives, who prefer 
those which have young ones in them. 
The eggs are of a pale olive-green co- 
lour, rather larger than those of the com- 
mon Duck.*' (Hooker's Tour in Iceland.) 
" We were shown with great pleasure 
the immense number of Eider Ducks 
which breed on Vidoe, and which were 
now sitting, on eggs, or young ones, 
exhibiting a most interesting scene. The 
Stiftsamptman made us go and coax some 
of the old birds, who did not on that 
account disturb themselves, almost every 
little hollow place, between the rocks, is 
occupied with the nests of these birds which 
are so numerous, that we were obliged to 
walk with the greatest caution, to avoid 
trampling upon them ; but besides this, the 
Stiftsamptman had a number of holes cut in 
* Buffon, Von Troil and other authors, says five or 
six. 
Von Troil informs U9 that it is not unusual for two 
females to lay their eggs in the same nest. 
