BRITISH BIRDS. 
317 
ment is too often repeated, they leave the place, and 
return to it no more. * The quantity of this valu- 
* The following particulars, from Von TroiPs Letters on 
.Iceland, are given, on account of the fingular trait of charafter 
which is mentioned — that of two females occupying only one 
neft : — 
“ The Elder birds build their nefts on little Idands not far 
from the Ihore, and fometimes even near the dwellings of the 
natives, who treat them with fuch klndnefs and clrcumfpedlion 
as to make them quite tame. In the beginning of June they 
lay five or fix eggs, and it is not unufual to find from ten to fix- 
teen eggs in one neft, with two females, who agree remarkably 
well together. The whole time of laying continues fix or feven 
weeks, during which time the natives vifit the neft, for the pur- 
pofe of taking the down and eggs, at leaft once a week. They 
jfirft carefully remove the female, and then take away the down 
and part of the eggs ; after which file lays afrefii, covering her 
eggs with new down plucked from her breaft : this being taken 
away, the male comes to her afliftance, and covers the eggs with 
his down, which is left till the young are hatched. One fe- 
male, during the whole time of laying, generally gives half a 
pound of down. The down from dead birds is accounted of 
little worth, having loft its elafticity. There are generally ex- 
ported fifteen hundred or two thoufand pounds of down on the 
company’s account, exclufive of what is privately fold.—The 
young ones quit the neft foon after they are hatched, and follow 
the female, who leads them to the water, where, having taken 
them on her back, ftie fwims with them a fevv yards, and then 
dives, and leaves them floating on the water : in this fituation 
they foon learn to take care of themfelves, and are feldom af- 
terwards feen on the land, but live among the rocks, and feed 
infects and fea-weed.” 
