Eider Duck

a valuable swimming bird found in N. and Arafic regions, both in Europe and America. Its favorite haunts are solitary rocky shores and islands. In particular spots their nests are so abundant that a person ean scarcely walk without treading on them. Their nests are usually formed of gra , dry seaweed, etc, lined with a large quantity of down, which the female plucks from her own breast. In this soft bed she lays five eggs which she covers over with a layer of down; then the natives who watch her operations take away both the eggs and the down; the duck lays a second time, and again has recourse to the feathers of her own body to protect her offspring; even this with the eggs is generally taken away; and it is said that in this extremity, her own stock being exhausted, the drake furnishes the third quantity of down; but some of the most competent authorities deny this statement. One female generally furnishes a few ounces of down. This down, from its superior warmth, lightne , and elasticity, is preferred by the luxurious to every other article for beds and coverlets; and from the great demand for it those districts of Norway, Green land, and Iceland where these birds abound are regarded as saost valuable property, and are guardtd with the greatest viglance, The #gs are also highly prized.