Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-09-15
AN ELDER DUCK FARM.
The Cruelty Practiced Upon the Patient
Birds in Norway.
L.. IL. e., l. N Nrosnni.,o

blr0s IN Norway
From the Cornhill Magazine
The colonies of breeding elders often
consist of an immense number of birds, and
the nests lie so thickly together that it is
often difficult to avoid stepping into them.
They are usually placed at some slight ele-
walton; and here in any faint depression
the duck collects small quantity of sea-
weed and drift stuff, which she forms into
a felty mass with her breast. Upon this
four or five eggs are laid in the course of a
week, these being of pale-green color,
and rather resembling those of the heron.
Even before the last egg is laid it is seen
that few feathers are scattered about the
nest, and as incubation proceeds these in
crease in quantity. The bird covers the
eggs with down plucked from her breast,
and this she does day by day until very
considerable quantity buries the eggs. 1t
is this down which has become such an
important article of commerce. If the
elders are Matching under ordinary condi-
tlons, the young appear in about twenty
six DAYS, and almost Immediately betake
themselves to the water. 1t is here that
they sun themselves, feed, and sleep. On
a rock bound bit of coast it is interesting
to watch the ducklings padding among
the stones and feeding upon the tiny BIZ
valves that are common among the bays
and inlets These remarks refer to the
breeding of wild elders; but unfortunately
colonies Of birds under natural conditions
are becoming more and more rare every
year. The commercial collector has every
where stepped in, and is putting a terrible
drain upon the species.
In Norway this bird is protected by law,
though only to be prosecuted the more
persistently by private individuals. On
one island, that Of IsaJardarjup, elder
ducks are said to nest in thousands
Speaking of the breeding sights by the
shore, Mr.. Shepherd, who visited the
colony, tells US that the brown ducks sat
upon their nests in masses, and at every
step started from beneath his feet. On
this island, of ree-quarters of mile in
length, it was difficult to walk without
stepping into the nests. A thick stone
breakwater ran along its coasts just above
high.water mark. At the bottom and
sides of the wall alternate stones had been
left out, so as to form series Of COM
partments for the ducks to nest in. Every
compartment was tenanted, and as the
visitors walked along the ducks flew out
all along the line. These we're welcomed
by the white brakes, which were tossing
on the water, with loud and clamorous
cooing." A farmhouse on the island was
tenanted in like manner. The house it.
self was "a great marvel" Ducks were
Matching on the turf walls which sur
rounded it, in the window embrasures,
on the ground, on the roof. The house
was fringed with ducks, and duck sat
in the scraper Then grassy bank
close by was cut into squares, every one
of which was occupied. A windmill was
hacked. as was every available object on
the island-mounds, rocks, crevices. THIS
was an eider-down farm. So tame we're
the ducks as 10 allow the farmers wife
TO stroke them IS they sat on their nests.
OF course there is another side to this
pleasant picture, as we see when we learn
how the "good lady" Of the island repays
the confidence Of the birds. And here it is
by another observer: "The elder down is
easily collected, as the birds are quite
tame. The female having laid five or six
male. greenish-olive eggs, in nest thickly
lined with her beautiful down, the collec-
tors after carefully removing the bird, rob
the nest of its contents, after which they
replace her. She then begins 70 lay afresh
though this time only three or four eggs
and again has recourse 10 the down on