The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-11-16
EiDeR-oOWN.
now the IIder Duck Makes It's Vest, and
What becomes OF H.

duced by the elder duck, an nhabitans
Of the Arctic ocean II is proper to call
these birds inhabitants Of the ocean. fcf
they pass the greater part Of their lives
far out at sea. only coming 70 land for
little while In spring for the purpose OF
laying and Matching their eggS
They are very awkward on land. but
are wonderful swimmers and divers, dc
scending twelve fathoms below the sur
face OF the water and remaining sub
merged as long as five minutes at time
Their food consists principally Of mol
lusks, which they pick up from the bed
Of the sea.
Their favorite laying places are certain
small. low islands OFT the coast Of Nor
way, which are called elder -holms.
-:is birds visit these Islands In pairs.
which present striking contrast in APP
pearance. the brakes being brilliantly
coIorsd in black. white and green, while
the females are OF dull reddish brown.
matching the color Of the scsnty vegeta-
ton SO perfectly that even pracuced
hunter can hardly discover them when
they crouch down among the reeds
On coming ashore the duck proceeds
very deliberately to choose place for
nest. while the drake follows and occa-
sionally gives warning Of real or faDcied
danger. The duck is very hard to SUIT
and it is not an unusual thing for her,
after examining all Likely spots out OF
doors. to march boldly into house and
coolly select what she considers suit
able place for her nest. such rs the oven
II 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 In
conveniences like the temporary loss of
their oven. for they know that their guest
will pay good price for her board and
lodging. When the duck has selected a
place she gathers grass and sticks ana
builds her nest. Then she plucks the
soft down from her breast and makes a
wonderful mat, which not only covers
the bottom OF the nest but rises go far
above the edge that it 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 valu
able eider-down mat. by the people OF the
house. and the duck goes of in sorrow 10
ner mate. who awaits her on the shore,
as his courage never rises TO such 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
drake's breast as bare as her own. After
this outrageous treatment he goes of IN
disgust and rejoins his companions at
sea. This time the duck is allowed to
hatch her brood without human inter
ference. 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 marauder carefully
folds the down coverlid over the robbed
nest again and carries the stolen eggs to
her own nest. In this way the eggs are
changed about so that n duck may finally
hatch out n brood containing not aslnsls
one Of her own offspring. As soon as
the dncklings are all Matched out. the
mother or fOster-mOther. il undlsturbed.
endeayors to lead her flock 10 tho shore.
This march 70 the sea IS TO the duck
lings 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. Csu'
ally the islanders interfere again at tins
point. but now their interference benefits
the ducks as wei ~ themselves. They
gather the down and carry the ducklings
In baskets to the shore. the old ducks
following them very contentedly.
When the shore il reached the baskets
are emptied into the water The old
ducks plunge in. and after a good deal
Of commotion swim out TO sea, each tol-
lowed by flock OF ducklings, some of
which she has never seen before.
The duck does not always make her
first nest in house, OF course, and 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 hi'
family. This nest is then robbed also, and
the poor duck ia forced to begin a third.
with the help Of the brakes down feath
ers. The rule among the eider-do"n
hunters is 10 rob every nest until the
drake's feathers, which differ IN coloi
from those Of his mate, appear among
the down. When this occurs 1t is knowI
that the pair will build no more thai
year, and so the eggs are allowed u
hatch in order to preserve the species.
A single nest will furnish at least al
ounce of down, which is worth on tn
spot about twenty-five cents OF oul
money. AS the birds visit the island II
vast numbers the collection and sale o
the down mats is an important source o.
income to the inhabitanA-L. Is. tletch
er in New York Home Journal.
Tho shah's Cat shoE.