Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 7.djvu/814

This page needs to be proofread.
790
EIL—EIS

both Icelanders and Norwegians. In the Old World the Eider breeds in suitable localities from Spitsbergen to the Farn Islands off the coast of Northumberland where it is known as StCuthbert s Duck. Its food consists of marine animals (mollusks and crustaceans), and hence the young are not easily reared in captivity. The Eider of the New World differs somewhat from our own, and has been described as a distinct species (S. dresseri). Though much diminished in numbers by persecution, it is still abundant on the coast of Newfoundland and thence northward. In Greenland also, Eiders are very plentiful, and it is supposed that three-fourths of the supply of down sent to Copenhagen comes from that country. Ths limits of the Eider s northern range are not known, but the late Arctic Expedi tion does not seem to have met with it after leaving the Danish settlements, and its place is taken by an allied species, the King-Duck (S. spectabilis), a very beautiful bird which sometimes appears on the British coast. The female greatly resembles that of the Eider, but the male has a black chevron on his chin and a bright orange prominence on his forehead, which last seems to have given the species its English nain.3. On the west coast of North America the Eider is represented by a species (S. v-nigrum) with a like chevron, but otherwise resembling ths Atlantic bird. In the same waters two other fine species are also found (S. fisclieri and S. stelleri), one of which (the latter) also inhabits the xlrctic coast of Russia and East Finmark and has twice reached England. The Labrador Duck (S.

labradoria), which is now believed to be extinct (see Birds, vol. iii. p. 735), also belongs to this group. (A. N.)

EILENBURG, a town of Prussia, in the province of Saxony, government of Merseburg, and circle of Delitzsch, is situated on an island formed by the Mulde, about 18 miles north-east of Leipsic. The principal structures are the hospital, the infirmary, three churches, and the castle. From the last-mentioned, formerly known as Ilburg, and in the time of Henry the Fowler an important post of defence against the Sorbs and Wends, the town received its name. The industries include the manufacture of chemicals, cloth, quilting, calico, cigars, and agricultural implements, bleaching, dyeing, wax-refining, brick-making, and trade in cattle. In the neighbourhood is the iron-foundry of Erwinhof. The population was 10,312 in 1875.

EINBECK, or Eimbeck, a town of Prussia, in the landrost of Hildesheim, and province of Hanover, formerly .chief town of the principality of Grubenhagen, is situated on the lime, 39 miles south of Hanover. It possesses a cathedral, five churches, a Jewish synagogue, a pro- gymnasium and other schools, and several endowed in stitutions. Among the manufactures are linen and woollen goods, spun stockings, carpets, sugar, leather, cigars, chemicals, and beer, for which last the place was once famous. Population in 1875, 6384.

Einbeck owes its rise to the frequent pilgrimages made in early times to the " Blood of the Saviour" at the cathedral chapel. It was a fortified Hanse town, and in 1542 joined the Smalcaldic League. On March 24, 1626, it was taken by Pappenheim, and on October 14, 1641, by Piccolornini; and during the Seven Years War it was repeatedly occupied by the French.

EINSIEDELN, a town in the canton of Schwyz, in Switzerland, situated in the valley of the Sihl, eight miles N.N.E. of Schwyz. The Benedictine abbey of Einsiedeln, founded about the middle of the 9th century, was several tunes partially or wholly destroyed by fire. The present edifice, in the Italian style, was erected in 1704-19, and stands at an elevation of 2985 feet above sea-level. It contains a library of 40,000 volumes, 1190 manuscripts, and 1015 incunabula, and in connection with it are a priests seminary, a gymnasium, and a lyceum. The emperors Otto the Great and Henry II. made valuable presents to the abbey, and in 1274 Rudolf of Hapsburs created the abbot a prince. The treasury was plundered by the French in 1798. The abbey has for centuries been noted for its sacred image of the Virgin, which brings to it yearly an average of 150,000 pilgrims, chiefly on the 14th of September. Most of the buildings of Einsiedeln are inns for the entertainment of the pilgrims, with whom ths inhabitants traffic in missals, sacred pictures, rosaries, crucifixes, and medallions. The Reformer Zwingli preached at Einsiedeln in 1516-18, and not far from the town is the house where Paracelsus is said to have been born. Popula tion about 7650.

EISENACH, the chief town of the Eisenach circle and of the administrative department of Saxe-Weimar- Eisenach, lies in a romantic district at the north-west end of the Thuringian wood. It is situated on the Hb rsel, at the junction of the Thuringian and Werra railways, and 44 miles west from Weimar. In its neighbourhood is the Wartburg, where Luther on his return from the Diet of Worms was imprisoned, and where from May 1521 to March 1522 he devoted himself to the translation of the Bible. On a high rock on the south side of the town are the ruins of the castle of Madelstein. Eisenach is the birth-place of Sebastian Bach, and he and Luther were educated at its gymnasium, then the Latin school. Among the public buildings may be mentioned the tower of r St Nicholas, the castle, rebuilt in 1742, and the town-house, erected in 1641. Eisenach has a manufactory for cotton cloth, and a large woollen and several other mills. Popula tion in 1875, 16,163.

EISENBERG, a town in the west circle of the duchy of Saxe-Altenburg, and 24 miles W.S.W. of Altenburg. It ia very old, and has changed possessors more than once, but was joined to Saxe-Albenburg in 1826. It possesses an old castle and a beautiful church. Its industries are principally woollen and porcelain manufactures, linen-weaving, and shoe-making. Population in 1875, 5509.

EISENBURG, or Vas Vármegye, a county of Western Hungary, on the Styrian frontier, inclosed on the north, east, and south by the counties of Sopron, Veszprim, and Szala, and on the west by the Styrian circle of Gratz. Its area is 1536 geogr. square miles. Though mountainous in the west and south, the land is generally fertile. The chief river is the Ilaab, which receives the Pinka, Sorok, Gybngyb s, and other streams. The natural and agricultural products consist of coals, mineral waters, quicksilver, corn, wine, fruit, and tobacco. Game, wild fowl, and fish are also plentiful. The population in 1870 amounted to 331,602, of whom nearly three-fourths were Roman Catholics, the rest chiefly Protestants and Jews. According to nationality about 140,000 are Magyars, 120,000 Germans, and the remainder Croatians and Slovaks. The principal town is Szembathely or Stein-am- Anger.

EISENSTADT, or Kis-Marton, a royal free town of East Hungary, in the varmegye or county of Sopron or Oeden- burg, in 47 51 N. lat. and 1630 E. long., is situated at the foot of the Leitha mountain range, not far from the west bank of Lake Neusiedl, 26 miles S.E. of Vienna. The town is famous as being the seat of Prince Eszterhazy, whose castle of Kis-Marton is one of the finest palaces in Hungary. It was built by Prince Paul, palatine of Hungary, in 1683, but was improved and added to in 1805. The park, which is very large, has a fine orangery, and several con servatories, containing many thousand varieties of exotic plants. The town itself is walled round, and has three main streets, with an old church, a town-hall, hospitals, and monasteries of the Brothers of Charity and of the Franciscans. To the north of the town there are exten sive zoological gardens,. The population in 1870 amounted to 247 G.