OF BIRDS* 
235 
with new down, which she also plucks from her body; 
when this is scarce, or she has no more left, the male 
comes to her assistance, and covers the eggs with his 
down, which is white, and easily distinguished from that 
of the female. When the young ones leave the nest, 
which is about an hour after they are hatched, it is once 
more plundered. — The most eggs and the best down, are 
got during the first three weeks of their laying; and it 
has generally been observed, that they lay the greatest 
number of eggs in rainy weather. One female, during 
the time of laying, generally gives half a pound of down; 
which, however, is reduced one half after it is cleaned. 
The Greenlanders kill these birds with darts; pursuing 
them in their little boats, watching their course by the 
air bubbles when they dive, and always striking them when 
they rise to the surface wearied. The flesh is valued as 
food, and their skins are made into warm and comfort* 
able under garments. 
Duck. (PI. 39.) The common duck, of which there 
are about ten different sorts, is so universally known as 
to require no description. It is most easily reared of all 
our domestic animals. The very instinct of the young 
ones directs them to their favourite element, and though 
they are conducted by a hen, they despise the admoni- 
tion of their leader. The feet of the tame duck are 
black. 
It is usual to lay duck eggs under a hen, because she 
hatches them better than the original parent would have 
done. The duck seems to be a heedless, inattentive mo- 
ther; she frequently leaves her eggs till they spoil, and 
even seems to forget that she is entrusted with the charge: 
she is equally regardless of them when excluded; she 
leads them to the pond, and thinks she has sufficiently 
provided for her offspring when she has shown them the 
water. Whatever advantages may be procured by com- 
ming near the house, or attending in the yard, she declined 
them all; and often lets the vermin, who haunt the wa- 
ters destroy them, rather than take shelter nearer home. 
The hen is a nurse of a very opposite character; she broods 
with the utmost assiduity, and generally brings forth a 
