The Opelousas courier., 1890-10-04
AN Elder DUCK FARM.
A BIRD WHOSE DOWN rs AN I'M
popTANT ARTICLE OF TRADE. Z

Immense Number Of Birds Often in
One Colony-Norbing the Nests
of Their Down.
The colonies of breeding elders often
consist of an immense number of birds,
and the nests lie SO thickly together that
it is often dificultto avoid stepping into
them. They are usually placed at some
slight elevation; and here in any FAINT
depression the duck collects a small
quantity Of seaweed 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 beng
of a pale-green color, and rather re-
sembling those of the heron. Even be-
fore the last egg is laid it is seen that a
few feathers are scattered about the nest,
and as incubation proceeds these increase
In quantity. The bird covers the eggs
with down plucked from her breast, and
this she does day by day until a very con-
siderable quantity buries the eggs. 1t is
this down which has become such an I'M
portant article of commerce. If the
elders are Matching under ordinary con-
ditions, 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 1t
is interesting to watch the ducklings
padding among the stones and feeding
upon the tiny bivalVes that are common
among the bays and inlets. These re-
marks refer to the breeding of wild
elders; but unfortunately colonies of
birds under natural conditions are be-
coming more and more rare every year.
The commercial collector has everywhere
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 I~safjardarjup,
elder ducks are said to nest in thou
sands. 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 three-quarters of a
mile in length, it was difficult to walk
without stepping into the nests. A
thick stone breakwater ran along its
coasts just aeove high-water mark. At
the bottom and sides of the wall alter
nate stones had been left out, SO as to
form q series of compartments for the
ducks to nest in. Every compartment
was tenanted, and the visitors walked
along the ducks flew out all apng the
line. These were welcomed by the
white brakes, which were tossing on the
water "with loud and clamorous COO
ing" 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 a duck sal
in the scraper. Then a grassy bank
close by was cut into squares. every one
Of which was occupied. A windmill
was packed, as was every available OBJ
iect on the island-mounds, rocks,
crevices. This was an eider-down farm.
So tame were the ducks as to allow the
farmers wife to stroke them as they sat
on their nests.
OF course there is another side to this
pleasant picture, as we sec when we
learn how the ssgood 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 hing
laid five or six pale, gr~eenish-olive eggs,
in a nest thickly lined with her beauti-
full down, the collectors, after carefully
removing the bird, rob the nest of its
contents, after which they replace her.
She then beg5ns to lay afresh-though
this time only three or four eggs-and
again has recourse to the down on her
body. But her greedy prosecutors once
more rife her nest, and oblige her to line
it for the third time. Now, however,
her own stock of down is exhausted, and
witgea plaintive voice she calls her mate
to her assistance, who willingly Mplucks
the soft feathers from his breast to sup
ply the deficiency. If the cruel robbery
be again repeated, which in former times
was frequently the case, the poor elder
duck abandons the spot never to return,
and seeks for a new home where she may
indulge her maternal instinct ~undisturbed
by the avarice of man."-Oornhm Maga-
sine.