Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-01-02
ALL ABOUT EIDER-DOWN.


journal, is produced by the elder duck,
an tnhabitant of the Arctic Ocean. 1t is |
pro q to call these birds inhabitants of
the Ap, for thoy pass the greater part
of their lives far out at sea, only coming
to land for. little while in spring for
the purpose of laying and Matching their
eggs. -.
Their favorite laying places are GER
tain small, low islands off the coast OF
Norway, which are called ''eider-
holms." The birds visit these islands
in pairs, which present striking con-
.trast in appearance, the brakes being
brilliantly colored in black, white and
green, whilo the females are, of q, dull
reddish brown, matching tho 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
nest, while the drake follows and occa-
sionally gives warning of real or fancied
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 suita-
bic place for her nest, such as the oven
if it happens to be unused at the time
The, human inmates of the house well
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 Sc
lectod a place she gathers grass and
sticks and 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 SO far above the edge that it can
!. be folded over the eggs when the duck
leaves tho nest in search of food.
H5 When the six or eight eggs are laid
+ they are seized, together with the val
uable eidor-down mat, by the people of
the house, and the duck goes off in sor-
row to her mate, who awaits her on the
shore, as his courage nevor rises to such
a pitch as to lead him into the house.
The duck, somewhat wiser than be-
fore, proceeds to build another most out
of doors, and as her own down feathers
arc exhausted she calmly plucks the
drake's breast as bare as her own.
After this outrageous treatment he goes
Off In disgust and reJolns ais COM
panions at sea. This time tho 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 nest near by. The
marauder carefully folds the down
coverlid over the robbed nest again and
carries tho stolen eggs to her own nest.
In this way the eggs arc changed about
SO that duck may finally hatch out q
brood containing not single one of her
own offspring. AS soon as the duck
lings arc all hatched out the mother or
foster-mothcr, If undisturbed, en-
desvors to lead her flock to tho shore.
This march to the sea is to tho duck
1ings what teething is to human in
fants, the most trying" time Of their
lives, for they are exposed to tho at
tacks Of birds of prey and other
enemies. Usually the islanders inter
fore again at this point, but now their
interference benefits the ducks as we'll
as themselves. They gather the down
and carry the ducklings in baskets to
the shore, the old duck following them
very contentedly.
When the shore is rearsled the bas-
kets are emptied into the water. Tho
old ducks plunge in, and after o good
= deal of cnusmotion swim out to sea,
each followed by fook of ducklings,
8ome efwhich she has never seen be.
fore. .......
!. a single nest VIII furnish at least an
ounce OF down, which is worth on the
SPOT about twenty-five cents of our
money! AS the birds visit tn q. island in
vast numlgers the collection and eale of
the down fhats Is ga important source of
income to u % inhabitants. ..
@Caaton. China. his Rfteen Chris.