Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-18
How Elder Down is Obtained.
: B. Fletcher IN Home Journal.

L. Is. FLETCHER IN Home Journal.
The wonderfully soft and warm substance
which we call elder down is produced by the
elder duck, an inhabitant Of the Arctic ocean.
1t is proper 10 call these birds inhabitants of
the ocean, for they pass the greater part Of
their lives far out at sea, only coming to land
for a little while in spring for the purpose of
laying and Matching their eggs.
They are very awkward on land but are won
derful swimmers and divers. descending IL
fathoms below the surface of the water and re-
naming submerged as long five minutes at
. time. Their food consists principally of
moliusks, which they pick up from the bed Of
the sea.
Their favorite laying places are certain small
low islands off the coast Of Norway, which are
called ''eider-holms." The birds visit these
islands in pairs, which present striking contrast
in appearance. the brakes being brilliantly col
ored in black, white and green, while the
females are of dull reddish brown, matching
the color OF the scanty vegetation so perfectly
that even practiced hunter can hardly dis
cover them when they crouch down among the
reeds.
On coming ashore the duck proceeds very
deliberately to choose place for a nest, while
the drake follows and occasionally gives warn
ing Of real or fancid danger. The duck is very
hard to suit, and it is not an unusal thing for
her, after examining all likely spots out of
DOORS to march body into house and cody
select what she considers suitable place for
her nest, such as the oven il it happens to be
unused at the time. The human inmates of
the house welcome her gladly supply with her
food, and cheerfully submit to any small in
conveniences like the temporary loss OF their
oven, for they know that their guest will pay
a 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
wonderful mat, which not only covers the
bottom Of the nest but rises so 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 valuable elder down
mat, by the people Of the house, and the duck
goes of in sorrow to her 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 before pro-
ceeds 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 treatment he
goes of in disgust and rejoins his companions
| at sea. This time the duck is allowed to hatch
her brood without human interference. But
are liable to be stolen by some other duck who
has 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 duck may finally hatch out brood
| spring. As soon as the ducKlings are all
hatched out the mother, or foster mother, il
| undisturbed, endeavors to lead her flock to the
shore.
| what teething is to human infants, the most
"trying" time of their lives, for they are ex-
| posed to the attacks of birds OF prey and other
enemies. Usually the islanders interfere again
| at this point, but now their interference bene-
| fits the ducks as well as themselves. They
4 Ooth ap tha 1nxv and l.,n1 I,v~.a -,
baskets to the shore, the old ducks following
them very contentedly.
When the shore is reached the baskets are
| emptied into the water. The old ducks plunge
| In and, after good deal Of commotion, swim
| out to sea, each followed by flock of duck
lings, some of which she has never seen be-
| fore.
The duck does not always make her first nest
in house, Of course and if 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 sufficient 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 elder
down hunters is to rob every nest until the
brakes feathers, which differ in color from
4 .noso VI MS Hate, appear among tne DOWN.
When this occurs it is known that the pair viii
build no more that year, and 30 the eggs are
allowed to hatch In order TO preserve the
species.
single nest viii furnish ct least an ounce of
down, which 10 worth on the spot about rs cents
OF our money. Al the birds visit the island in
vast numbers the collection and sale of the
down mats Is an important source Of income TO
| the inhabitants
/ James @. Blaine, r., has resumed work in
the machine shops al WatervilIa NJ