The E. is sometimes called ST. CUTHBERT'S DUCK, from a rock called St. Cuthbert's isle, one of the Fern islands. It seems probable that, with due care, the number of the eiders at the Fern islands, and some of the Scottish islands, might be greatly increased, and their down yield a considerable revenue; but at present their eggs are indiscrimi nately taken with those of other sea-birds, and no protection is extended to them. The eggs are remarkably fine. The flesh of the birds, also, is not. unpleasant, and is said to become of superior excellence when they are partially domesticated, and when farinaceous food is mixed in considerable quantity with their natural diet of marine mollusks, crus taceans, etc. , The complete domestication of the E. has been successfully attempted, where access could be obtained to the sea.
About half a pound of eider-down is said to be annually obtained from each nest, but this is reduced by cleaning to a quarter of a pound. The elasticity of the down is such that three quarters of an ounce of it will fill a large hat, although two or three pounds of it may be pressed into a ball and held in the hand. Its extensive use, par ticularly in Germany and other parts of the continent of Europe, for stuffing the bed coverings, which there usually supply the place of blankets, etc., is well known. The
down taken from birds which have been killed is inferior in quality to that obtained from the nests. ' The latter is known in commerce as live &lin, the former as dead down.
The KING EIDER, or KING DUCK (S. speetabilis), also yields no inconsiderable part of the eider-down of commerce, especially of that which is brought from the Danish settlements in Greenland. This bird belongs to still higher northern latitudes than the common eider. On some parts of the coasts of Greenland, on those of Spitzbergen, Nova Zembla, the North Georgian islands, etc., it occurs in great numbers. A few breed in Iceland and the Fartie islands. In Britain, the bird is a rare visitant. It is of about the same size as the common eider The female is very similar to the female of that species; but the male has a remarkable large protuberance over the base of the upper mandible, and the white color of the neck extends only over the upper part of the back. Skins of king ducks are made into winter garments by the inhabitants of Siberia and Kamtehatka.