848 
BIRD-LIFE. 
but become daily more and more estranged from their 
spouses and families : the latter only require attention 
for a few days. When quite young it often happens that 
half the brood, tired with their exertions, climb up on 
the mother’s back, and rest themselves there in comfort; 
after a few days, however, they feel self-reliant enough 
to make their way in the world, or rather through the 
water, though still under the leadership of the old bird. 
I have often amused myself by following an old Eider 
Duck and her brood with our fast boat, manned by a 
strong crew, so as better to observe the family. As soon 
as the boat approached, the old bird began swimming 
with all her might, with the youngsters following in a 
string, owing to the little creatures not being quite so well 
up in the art of swimming as their mother. When the 
boat got quite close, then an exhibition of diving ensued 
that made it a pleasure to watch the pretty, active little 
creatures. Sometimes we managed to cut off the old 
bird from her brood, so that she became obliged to seek 
safety in flight: they were now deserted, but still not 
helpless, as they immediately made for the shore, which 
they managed to gain, and then, climbing and tumbling 
in all directions, ran off, like young Partridges, hither 
and thither, until they all soon managed to hide them¬ 
selves amongst the stones. Being experienced in such 
ruses I hunted about, until I succeeded in capturing 
them all, and carried them into the house : in the room, 
they ran about without ceasing, trying to hide themselves 
as well as they could. If, after a time, I let them out 
one by one, the whole batch called themselves together 
again, and made the best of their way instinctively to the 
sea, where the anxious mother herself awaited them. 
With the exception of the Sea Eagle and the Iceland 
