THE EIDER DUCK. 
373 
joy at the unexpected re-union, by twining bis neck on bers, 
— nestling it under ber wing, and gazing at her with eyes 
expressive of extreme delight and satisfaction. 
There is another Wild- Duck deserving of mention from 
the value of the down upon its breast, which is carefully 
collected by those who rear these birds, and dispose of their 
produce at a very high price. The bird we speak of is the 
Eider Duck. And well may it have a warmer under-clothing 
than most other Ducks, — horn and bred, as it is, amidst the 
most dreary and desolate region of the Frozen Seas, and 
abiding either solitary or in pairs near the ice, as far as 
possible from land, hut assembling, at the breeding season, in 
vast numbers, on most of the islands in the North . As 
Iceland is one of their favourite haunts, we cannot do better 
than collect our particulars from a spot where they are pro- 
bably better known than anywhere else. There, as they are 
rarely hurt or disturbed, they become surprisingly tame, and 
allow persons to walk amongst their nests. On approaching 
them, the Drakes, indeed, often take alarm, and plunge with 
great precipitancy into the water ; hut the Ducks generally 
remain sitting on their nests, or merely fly to the distance of 
a yard or two, and on an attempt to touch their eggs, return 
in a rage. Many of them suffer themselves to he handled, 
and can only he removed by actual force from their nests. 
In some parts of the island, where they are more particularly 
attended to, they build their nests on the roofs of the houses, 
and become quite familiar with the inhabitants. The nests 
are constructed of sea- weed, and lined with the finest down, 
plucked from their breasts. 
As soon as it is observed that the first eggs are laid, they 
are removed, and the nests at the same time robbed of the 
down ; and this is repeated a second or a third time ; but it 
is generally found, that if they are robbed more than twice, 
they begin to desert the place, and if pillaged oftener, they 
quit it entirely. 
A few days after the young Ducks leave the egg, they 
proceed to the water, under the guidance of their dam, who 
