EIDER DUCK

(So mater i a mollisZ < v ee eT 84 ae ee EIFFEL TOWER sima), a species of duck found from 45° north to the highest latitudes yet visited, both in Europe and America. Its favourite haunts are solitary rocky shores and islands. In Green land and Iceland they occur in great numbers, and also breed on the western islands of Scotland. The eider duck is about twice the size of the common, duck, being about 2 feet 3 inches in length, 3 feet in breadth of wing, and from 6 to 7 lb. in weight. The male is black, head and back white, with a black crown. The female is reddish drab spotted with black, and with two white bands on the wings. They feed largely on shell-fish and crustaceans. Their nests are usually formed of drift gra or dry sea-weed, 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. If this, with the eggs, is removed, the bird repeats the proce .: One female generally furnishes about 4 1b. of down, but the quantity is reduced by cleaning. This down, from its superior warmth, lightne , and elasticity, is in great demand for beds and coverlets; and the districts in Norway and Iceland where these birds abound are guarded with the greatest vigilance as a most valuable property. As found in commerce this down is in balls of the size of a man’s fist, and weighing from 3 to 4 1b. Tt is so fine and elastic that 5 lb. of the best quality is sufficient for a whole bed. The down from dead birds is little esteemed, having lost its elasticity. The king eider duck (So mater i a spectabilis) is another species resembling the preceding and inhabiting the same coasts.—Cf. J. G. Mill a is, British Diving Ducks.