They are about the size of our ducks; their eggs are of a greenish grey, rather larger than hen's eggs, and taste very well.

Altogether they lay about eleven eggs.

The finest down is that with which they line their nests at first; it is of a dark grey colour.

The Icelanders take away this down, and the first nest of eggs.

The poor bird now robs herself once more of a quantity of down (which is, however, not of so fine a quality as the first), and again lays eggs.