Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-10-17
an rlpsR-pucK FARM.
How the Farmer Repays tho Confidence o.
the Trusting Birds.


How the Farmer kepays tho connaenoe "
the Trusting Birds.
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 AZ
some slight elevation; and here IN
faint depression the duck collects .
small quantity of seaweed and oris
stuff. which she forms into felty mass
with her breast Upon this four or hye
eggs are laid In the course of week,
these being of pale green color, ana
rather resembling those of the heron
Even before the last egg is laid 1t is
seen that a few feathers are scattered
about the nest, and as incubation pro-
ceeds these increase in quantity. Inc
bird covers the eggs with down plucked
from her breast, and this she does day
by day until very considerable quaint
ity buries the eggs 1t is this down
which has become such an important
article of commerce. If the elders are
Matching under ordinary conditions, the
young appear in about twenty-six days,
themselves to the water. 1t Is here
that they sun themselves feed and
sleep On 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 every
where stepped in, and is putting ter
rible drain upon the species
In Norway this bird is protected by
law, though only to be prosecuted the
more persistently by private individu-
ais. On one island, that of Isafjardar-
iup, 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-quar-
ters 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 let out so as to
form series of compartments 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 were welcomed by the
white brakes, which were tossing on
the water with loud and clamorous
cooling" A farm house on the island
was tenanted in like manner. The
house itself was "a great marvel.
Ducks were Matching on the turf walls
which surrounded it, in the window en-
brasures, on the ground, ON the roof
The house was fringed with ducks, anG
duck sat in the scraper. Then ;
grassy bank close by was cut int
squares, every one of which was occu
pied A windmill was packed as wa.
every available object on the island
mounds rocks, crevices. This was al
eider-down farm. So tame were tht
ducks as to allow the farmers wife t.
stroke them as they sat on their nests
OF course there is another side to thi
pleasant picture, as we see when VIZ
learn how the good lady" O
the island repays the confidenc,
of the birds. And here it is by an
other observer: 1.-THE elder down il
easily collected, as the birds are quite
tame. The female having laid five O
six pale. greenish-olive eggs, in a mes
thickly lined with her beautiful down
the collectors. after carefully removing
the bird, rob the MT of its contents
after which they replace her She the1
begins to lay afresh--though this tim,
only three or four eggs-and again ha
recourse to the down on her body. Blu
her greedy prosecutors once more riff,
her nest and oblige her to line it TO
the third time. Now, however, her owl
stock OF down is exhausted, and with
plaintive voice she calls her mate to he
assistance. who willingly plucks the sof
feathers from his breast to supply tn,
deficiency. If the cruel robbery be agair
repeated, which in former time was fire.
quently the case, the poor elder duck
abandons the spot never to return, anG
seeks for new home where she NAV
indulge her maternal instinct undi IS
turbed by the avarice of man. Corn.
hill Magazine.