416 
ANATID M. 
out their appearing to be at all alarmed. Almost every 
little hollow place between the rocks is occupied with the 
nests of these birds, which are so numerous, that we were 
obliged to walk with the greatest caution to avoid tramp¬ 
ling upon them. But besides this, the Stiftsamptman has 
a number of holes cut in the smooth and sloping side of a 
hill, in two rows, and in everv one of these there is a nest/' 
The nest of this species is at first composed of dry grass 
only, the whole or greater part of the eggs being laid before 
the down is added, which is increased during the progress 
of incubation, and is rendered more firm and stable by 
having short bits of dry grass interwoven with it. The 
lining of one nest, which I brought home with me, though 
easily compressed within my hand, when warm and ex¬ 
panded, filled my hat, and was one ounce and five-eighths 
in weight: the old bird, which I shot from it, did not 
appear to be more than lialf-divested of its down. In 
Iceland, where they are robbed two or three times succes¬ 
sively during the season, Yon Troile states that the quan¬ 
tity given by each duck is half a pound—a large estimate 
when compared with the quantity contained in the nest 
of that I have spoken of, which was taken at the time the 
eggs were hard sitten, and therefore contained the full 
quantity of down, or nearly so. The eggs of this species 
are five in number, but it is not an unusual thing to find 
ten in the same nest,—the produce of two birds, which sit 
very amicably together. When the bird is absent, the eggs 
are carefully covered over, no doubt for the double purpose 
of concealment and of warmth. The same precaution is, 
however, adopted when the nest contains only two or three 
eggs, and before the down has been added, or the birds have 
begun to sit, and there is consequently no warmth to lose, 
they are carefully covered over with grass and leaves, 
gathered for the purpose, and sometimes fresh and green. 
