Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-11-15

The wonderful soft and warm sub
stance which we call elder down is
produced by the elder duck, an inhab-
liant of the Arctic Ocean. Ii is proper
/ 10 call these birds inhabitants of the
ocean, for they pass the greater part
of their lives far out at sea, only COM
/ ing TO land for little while in spring
for the purpose of laying and hatch
ing their eggs.
They are very awkward on land,
but are wonderful swimmers and di-
vers, descending twelve fathoms be-
low the surface of the water and re-
manning submerged as long as five
minutes at a time. Their food con-
sists principally of mollusks, which
they pick up from the bed of the sea.
Their favorite laying places are GER
tain small low islands of the coast OF
Norway, which are called "eider
homes" The birds visit these islands
in pairs, which present striking con-
trast in appearance, the brakes being
brilliantly colored in black, white
and green; while the females are OF
dull reddish brown, matching the
color Of the scanty vegetation 80 per
fectly that even practiced hunter
can hardly discover them when they
crouch down among the reeds.
On coming ashore the duck pro-
ceeds very deliberately TO choose a
place for nest, while the drake fol-
lows and occasionally gives warn
ing of real or fancied danger. The
duck is very hard 10 suit and il is not
an unusual thing for her, after exam
lining all likely spots out of doors, 10
march boldly into house and coolly
select what she considers u suitable
place for her nest, such as the oven IL
it happens To be unused at the time
The human inmates OF the house wei
come her gladly, supply her with food
and cheerfully submit to any small
inconvenience like the temporary loss
OF their oven, for they know that
their guest will pay Il good price for
her board and lodging. When the
duck has selected place she gathers
grass and sticks and builds her nest.
Then she plucks the soft down from
her breast and makes IA wonderful
mat, which not only covers the bot
tom OF the nest, but rises so far above
the edge that il can be folded over
the eggs when the duck leaves the
nest in search Of food.
When the six or eight eggs are laid
they are seized, together with the
valuabl elder down mat, by the peo-
pie of the house, and the duck goes
off in sorrow TO her mate, who awaits
her on the shore, as his courage never
rises to such u pitch as TO lead him
into the house.
The duck somewhat wiser than be
fore, proceeds TO build another nest
out of doors, and as her own down
feathers are exhausted, she calmly
plucks the brakes breast as bare as
her own. After this outrageous treat
ment he goes off in disgust and re-
joins his companions at sea. This
time the duck is allowed to hatch her
brood without human interference.
But whenever she leaves the nest two
or three eggs are liable TO be stolen
by some other duck who has a nest
near by. The marander carefully
folds the down coverlid over the rob
bed nest again and carries the stolen
eggs TO her own nest. In this way
the eggs are changed about so that
duck may finally hatch out brood
containing not a single one OF her
own offspring. AS soon as the duck
lings are all Matched out the mother,
or foster mother, il undisturbed en-
deavors TO lead her flock to the shore
This march TO the sea Is TO the
ducklings what teething is to human
infants, the most trying time OF
their lives, for they are exposed to
the attacks Of birds of prey and other
enemies. Usually the islanders inter
fere .again at this point, but now
their interference benefits the ducks
as well as themselves. They gather
the down and carry the ducklings in
baskets to the shore, the old ducks
following them very contentedly.
When the shore is reached the bas-
kets are emptied into the water. The
old duck plunge in and after a good
deal of commotion swim out TO sea,
each followed by flock Of ducklings
some OF which she has heyer seen be-
fore.
The duck does not always make her
first nest in house, Of course, aud II
the first nest is not disturbed she will
simply hatch her brood and put to
sea with them, and the drake will not
be robbed OF his feathers. But the
islanders are very watchful and the
first nest rarely escapes, no matter
where it is built.
Sometimes the ducks down Is SUM-
cient to supply the second nest, and
in this case the drake remains with
his family. This nest is then robbed
also, and the poor duck is forced TO
begin third, with the help Of the
brakes down feathers. The rule
among the eider-down hunters Is to
rob every nest until the brakes feath-
ers, which differ in color from those
OF his mate, appear among the down.
When this occurs it is known that the
pair will build no more that year, and
so the eggs are allowed 10 hatch In
order to preserve the species.
! A sfnf,la nest will furnish at least