3i8 
BRITISH BIRDS, 
able commodity, which is thus annually colleded 
in various parts, is uncertain. BufFon mentions one 
particular year, in which the Icelandic company fold 
as much as amounted to upwards of eight hundred 
and fifty pounds flerling. This, however, mufl: be 
only a fmall portion of the produce, which is all 
fold by the hardy natives, to ftulF the couches of 
the pampered citizens of more polifhed nations. 
The great body of thefe birds conftantly refides 
in the remote northern, frozen climates, the rigours 
of which their thick cloathing well enables them to 
bear. They are faid to keep together in flocks in 
the open parts of the fea, fifliing and diving very 
deep in quefl: of fhell-fifli and other food, with 
which the bottom is covered, and when they have 
fatisfied themfelves, they retire to the fhore, whither 
they at all times repair for fhelter, on the approach 
of a florm. Other lefs numerous flocks of the 
Eiders branch out, colonize, and breed further 
fouthward in both Europe and America : they are 
found on the promontories and numerous ifles of 
the coafl of Norway, and on thofe of the northern, 
and the Hebrides or weflern ifles of Scotland, and 
alfo on the Fern Ifles, on the Northumberland coaft, 
which latter is the only place where they are known 
to breed in England, and may be faid to be their 
utmoft fouthern limit in this quarter, although a 
few folitary inflances of Angle birds being fhot fur- 
ther fouthward along the coafl: have fometimes hap- 
