THE'AUDUBON BULLETIN 29 
Photograph by A. M. Bailey 
IN THE DOWN 
housekeeping stage, and then leave for points unknown. We saw one 
old hen far out from land, with her half dozen downy youngsters. 
The two islands were about alike, low-lying rocks, with their tops 
clothed with dense stands of grass through which the nesting Eiders have 
made a myriad of intricate pathways. We found that the ducks were not 
wary, many of the nesting birds remaining on their eggs until we were 
within a few feet. “he nesting season was well along, but we found 
nests with fresh eggs; the birds which were frightened from their nests 
congregated upon nearby sandspits, while the hundreds of Herring Gulls 
circled overhead voicing their displeasure at our invasion in no uncer- 
tain terms. 
The members of the Provancher Society had kindly erected blinds 
at my request, so the nesting Eiders were accustomed to them; the hiding 
places were situated in favorable sites with half a dozen nests nearby, so 
it was a simple matter to set up our photographic equipment, and it was not 
long, after we had concealed ourselves, before birds came swooping in, 
alighting with loud back strokes of their wings. “They apparently sensed 
a change in the blinds, however, for they were shy, and took flight when 
I started cranking. However, after a while one accepted the situation, 
