11 GANNET.
" 21st. Tin' old birds again took up with the young •tin- un the opposite side of their enclosure, both male
and female attending to it.
"22ud. Old birds still with the young one, and occasionally driving off any of the other birds that
approached too close fur their liking. They still supplied it with foot!, sometimes in the form of soup and at
limes H bole llsh.
"24th. The male had done the greater part uf the reeding, and I again observed him bringing up
portions of llsh, which the young one took by thrusting its head down the parent's throat.
"25tll. Having noticed the young Gannet continually spreading its wings, 1 had them dipped today.
I did not imagine it could rise under ordinary cireuinstances from so small a space; it was, however, quite
possible the bird might be carried away during a sudden gust of wind. The old birds were busily employed
in plucking nlf the small portion of down that remained on the head.
"2~lh. The young Gannet bad now lost every particle of down, but was still looked after by the
old birds.
" t lelolier 2nd. This was the last date on which the young one was observed to be fed by the parents.
" 1881, March 30th. The young bird had by this time changed but slightly from the iwatllng pllsaag II
There were a few white feathers showing about the breast, neck, and back of head. Beak dull pile horn; iris
a pale lead-tint; circle round eye pale lead, w ith a bluish tiage; feet black; the markings on legs and toes an
indistinct dirty white."
The same pair of Gonnets nested again in 1891, the egg being laid on May 8th, the young one
hatched June 21st, and full-Hedged by the 4th of September. It would be useless to record a second
time the observations concerning the development of the plumage of the nestling: iu almost every
particular its progress eorreepooded precisely with the growth of the young one of the previous year. One
fact, however, ought not to lie omitted, as it tends to bear out the impressions I had formed on the Bass,
viz. that the adults will not tolerate the presence of birds in the immature stages in the vicinity of their
quarters. On the 11th of July, while the male and female were engaged with the latest habhy, the other four
adults (whose constant squabbles over their own nesting-arrangements had put a stop to ail hopes of domestic
felicity) suddenly, aud without the slightest cause, set upon the unoffending young bird (now just turned a
twelvemonth old), and so severely injured it that recuicry was hopeless.
I have seen statements to the effect that the Gannet is unsuited to confinement, and ill repays the
consideration with which it is treated. The poor creatures see by nature endowed with a voracious appetite,
and, if starred, necessarily become ravenous and pos-ihly spiteful. When looked after by those acquainted
with their requirements and willing to supply them with a sufficient quantity of food, none of the feathered
tribe could be found whose habits are more interesting, and but few so harmless and gentle.
From the time they were lirst removed from the nest, the young birds I procured at the Bass had varied
in temper and disposition. Some were particularly confiding, following those they were acquainted with
round their enclosure, endeavouring to draw their attention ; while two or three were morose and shy, resenting
the slightest familiarity with harsh screams and a lunge from their powerful bill. With a single exception,
•they became more amiable as they progressed in years. While in the llrst plumage their appetite is far
greater than in the more advanced stages, sir, eight, or even ten herrings Mag occasionally swallowed at a
single meal. I have repeatedly watehed a bird with the tails of three or four herrings protruding from
its mouth, and still eagerly looking out for another fish. Two, or even three, of the largest Irish mackerel
were at times consumed by one individual, though the bird for some minutes exhibited signs of extreme
diseomfort, being incapable of bending its neck or even turning its head. The number of sprats that a
hungry Gauuet could consume would, I should imagine, amount to several hundreds. Mackerel, herrings,
nnd sprats appear to be their favourite food. It is strange that they woultl at once reject a pilchard if offered
to them amongst the herrings, dropping the fish the moment they had seized it. When herrings were not to
be procured, I have known them accept the pilchards as a last resource; hut they wen evidently taken
without relish. 1 triad them with several other varieties of the tinny tribe, such as pollack, haddock, whiting,
mullet, nnd smelts, but not one would they ever swallow of their own accord. During hot sultry weather in
July mill August I often remarked the birds were hut little inclined for food. A llsh would occasionally
be taken, but after being tossed in a sportive manner from one to the other, it was usually relinquished, for
a week, at times, this behaviour was noticed, though now aud then they might be tempted to accept a tish or
two by offering them their food towards evening, when the fierce heat of the day bad passed.
The walking-powers of the Gannet can seldom lie studied while the bird is in a wild state. It is usually
allowed that they are extremely awkward: this is certainly the case on rough ground, but over an even
surface they are able to make their way with about the agilily of a farmyard Goose. I soon learned that
the gnat difficulty (indeed the only one) iu keeping the birds in health was to provide them with a suitable
eseri'isiug-grounil. In the lirst instance, the enclosure iu which they were turned out was laid down with
n foundation of chalk about a couple of feet iu thickness, and on this tine gravel was spread. Two or three
of the birds soon showed signs of lameness, and the soles of their bet lieeame swelled. As I considered
the gravel too rough it was removed, and sea-sand put down iu its place to a thickness of about six inches.
For a month or so this answered admirably, and their feet (the swellings baring previou-ly discharged] rapidly
recovered. I had just come to the conclusion that the sand was all that could be desired, when the weather,
which had for some time been wit and dull, rapidly changed, and after a few hot days a strong breeze,
increasing into a heavy gale, set in. The next time I tisited the birds the aspect of their enclosure wis
completely altered; the whole of the sand that had not ban blown into the pond was banked up like a
snow-drift along one side. As the place was much exposed, and consequently always liable to be affected
in this manner by the force of the wind, the sand was removed, aud the surface of the chalk rolled and
beaten down as far as possible. This appeared to suit the birds well ; w ith a siugle exception, they had no
return of the swellings, and the one that suffered occasionally, recovered rapidly when once the corn broke
and discharged. After the chalk had been down for a year or two, small patches of grass began to show
themselves. I then bad grass-seed sown thickly, and the place constantly watered ; it soon became completely
covered with a line short turf, which, owing to the chalk foundation, never became damp or spungy.
The young birds at the age of five or six months, wilh the exception previously referred to, showed
themselves as playful and mischievous as a litter of puppies. They proved, however, somewhat destructive
to plants and shrubs: any branch or stick they were able to tear up was immediately seize! hold of ami
dragged from one to the other for hours. A Water-Rail, which bad been caught and turned into the garden
where they lived, was a source of great amusement to the Geese. The active little bird appeared but
slightly disco nee r led by the treatment ; at lci-l, lie was perpetually try iug bow near he could get to them
without being snapped up. On one occasion, having incautiously ventured too close to a Gannet that was
merely feigning sleep, be was seized in a moment. For a second or two the unfortunate bird disappeared
in the capacious throat of his captor; but before I could come to his rescue was again free, and, aided bylegs
and wings, speedily gained the friendly shelter of the bushes before the other Ganuets which were
waddling up could cut oil bis retreat.
Thai a wild Gannet would molest any diminutive member of the feathered tribe is improbable, though
the tame birds not liufrequeiilly amused themselves in this manner. I happened to be watching ,i party
of S|iarrows making an attack on the corn provided for some tame Gulls, when a Gannet, who was resting
with his head drawn kick anil apparently perfectly unconcerned with what was going on, suddenly dashed out
bis neck, and sci/.ing an unlucky Sparrow, bolted it iu a moment. Considering the skill with which the
seizure was effected descried to be rewarded, I bit upon a plan to render the capture more easy. Removing