The Eider Duck. 
389 
Wild Ducks are caught by decoys in the fen countries, 
and in such prodigious numbers, that in only ten decoys 
in the neighbourhood of Wainfleet, as many as thirty- 
one thousand two hundred have been caught in one sea- 
son. They do not always build their nests close to the 
water, but often at a considerable distance from it; in 
which case the female will take the young ones in her 
beak, or between her legs, to the water. They have 
sometimes been known to lay their eggs in a high tree, 
in a deserted magpie's or crow's nest ; and an instance 
has been recorded of one being found at Etchingham, in 
Sussex, sitting upon nine eggs in an oak, at the height 
of twenty-five feet from the ground : the eggs were sup- 
ported by some small twigs laid cross-ways. 
The tame Ducks, reared about mills and rivers, or 
wherever there is a sufficient quantity of water for them 
to indulge their sports and to search for food, become a 
branch of trade, which proves very profitable to their 
owners. 
THE EIDER DUCK, (Sornateria mollissima,) 
Which is found about the coasts of the north of England 
