11 GANNET.
the board on which the corn was spread, some round boles were out, in which were inserted neat little paper
tunes lilled halfway up with corn and smeared round the. edges v> itli bird-lime; then returning the board to its
usual place, I waited to see the result. The Gamuts appeared thoroughly to understand the whole proceeding,
and never interfered with the Sparrows till they got into difficulties; but as one cunning old bird succeeded
in swalluwiug three Sparrows that were Buttering about, together with the paper cones, bird-lime, aud corn, I
thought such a mixture cold scarcely be beneficial t • tiieir health, and accordingly gave up the experiment.
The Guillemots kept in the same enclosure were also fond of a quiet joke in their own small way.
"Whenever they could catch a Gaunct asleep on the bank with its tail hanging over the pond, they would swim
close up, and, seizing (he fathers in their beak, give two or three good tugs, and then disappear below the
surface before the astonished Gaunct could make out from where the attack was made. They had, however, to
be careful that they were not caught,as what was play to a Gannet was death to a Guillemot, aud once or twice
they paid for their fun with their lives. On one occasion a poor bird was confused by two Ganuels snapping
at him at once; and one seizing him by the head and the other by the feet, he was dead before an attendant, who
had watched the affair, could get to tbe rescue. Although appearing almost impossible, it is doubtless a fact
that one was entirely swallowed by a Gannet. Tor several horns a Guillemot was missing, aud, owing to a strong
breeze, it was conjectured the bird must have got on wing (they were never pinioned) and llown away; the
following morning, however, it was floating on the water in the pond in a condition that left no doubt as
to its fate. The feathers and flesh had entirely disappeared from the head and neck, and the skull was
bare; the colour of the beak was akso faded to a livid flesh-tint. It was then remembered that one of the
Gannets had refused his dinner on the previous day; and, considering the lunch he had made, this could
hardly be wondered at. When it is considered that these birds can swallow- at one time two or three of the
largest mackerel, it is not so surprising that the feat was accomplished, though I am unable to account for
the inducement.
I never remarked the Gannet in a wild state make an attempt to dive for prey while swimming. Those
1 kept in confinement, having been pinioned, were unable to rise on wing; they were, however, by no means
incapacitated from reaching any fish that sunk to the bottom of their pond. The whole party might
frequently be noticed busily engaged in diving; their actions (which certainly lacked the ease and silcneo with
which Cormorants or Divers disappear beneath the waves) closely resembled the plunge that is made by
the Coot. The wings were used below the surface, after the manner of the Guillemot.
When Gannets make the downward plunge straight from the air (previous to which they occasionally
sail round and steady themselves for a moment), it is probable that they have detected the presence of fish
anil selected their \ ictim beneath the surface of the water. Their sight is excessively keen ; and the accuracy
with which the tame birds would catch fish when Hung to them from a distance uf twenty or thirty yards was
certainly snrpri-ing. If thrown within a yard or two of where the bird was either standing or swimming-,
not one fish in twenty would be dropped. In case the prey happened to lie seized in some manner that was
unsuitable, it was usually tossed up iu the air to the height of perhaps a foot, then taken head downwards aud
immediately swallowed.
The specimens from which the figures iu the Plates are taken were all wild birds, the ages of those
exhibiting the plumage of one, two, three, and four years being judged by comparison with birds reared
iu confinement. The ages of the nestlings in the more advanced stages were also ascertained iu the same
manner, the dates on which the younger birds hatched out on the Bass being observed and noted down.
In Plate i. are figured an adult leinalo and a nestling between live ami sii weeks old.
Tbe principal figure in Plate I I . is a nestling between eight and nine weeks old. The usual and
demonstrative greeting that takes place between an adult male and female, on the rci urn of one of the pair to
their nest after a lengthened voyage in search of prey, is depicted in the background.
GANNET.
Plate I I I . gives the full-fledged young bird in the state in which it leaves the Rock, probably twelve
or thirteen weeks old. The stage termed by the natives the " Parliamentary Goose " is also shown, the fringe
of down round the head and neck being supposed to hear a resemblance to a wig. The youngster was from
ten to eleven weeks old; and I have seldom remarked the downy wig so perfect as in this specimen.
The two Geese iu Plate IV. are just over one year old. Tbe dillcrenee iu the white markings may bo
accounted for by the fact of one having been hatched somewhat earlier in the season. In a few weeks' time
the darker specimen would be in much the same state.
In Plate V. the same reason may he given for the slight difference iu the plumage of the specimens.
These birds were but little over two years old.
A threc-yrar-old Gannet aud the last stage (four years old) before assuming the perfect adult plumage
are shown In Plate VI.