234 
ANAS GLACIALIS. 
from the singularity of its cry, something 1 imitative of 
the sound of those words, and also, that, when very 
clamorous, they are supposed to betoken a southerly 
wind ; on the coast of New Jersey, they are usually 
called old wives. They are chiefly salt water ducks, 
and seldom ramble far from the sea. They inhabit our 
bays and coasts during 1 the winter only ; are rarely 
found in the marshes, but keep in the channel, diving 
for small shell-fish, which are their principal food. In 
passing to and from the bays, sometimes in vast flocks, 
particularly towards evening, their loud and confused 
noise may be heard in calm weather at the distance 
of several miles. They fly very swiftly, take short 
excursions, and are lively restless birds. Their native 
regions are in the north, where great numbers of them 
remain during the whole year ; part only of the vast 
family migrating south to avoid the severest rigours of 
that climate. They are common to the whole northern 
hemisphere. In the Orkneys, they are met with in 
considerable flocks, from October to April ; frequent 
in Sweden, Lapland, and Russia; are often found about 
St Petersburg, and also in Kamtschatka. Are said to 
breed at Hudson’s Bay, making their nest among the 
grass near the sea, like the eider duck, and about the 
middle of June, lay from ten to fourteen bluish white 
eggs, the size of those of a pullet. When the young 
are hatched, the mother carries them to the water in 
her bill. The nest is lined with the down of her breast, 
which is accounted equally valuable with that of the 
eider duck, were it to be had in the same quantity.* 
They are hardy birds, and excellent divers. Are not 
very common in England, coming there only in very 
severe winters ; and then but in small straggling parties ; 
yet are found on the coast of America as far south at 
least, as Charleston, in Carolina, during the winter. 
Their flesh is held in no great estimation, having a fishy 
taste. The down and plumage, particularly on the 
breast and lower parts of the body, are very abundant, 
and appear to be of the best quality. 
* Latham. 
