G A N N E T .
GANNET,.
SUL A BAS SANA {Linn.).
Pelecanus bassanus, Linn. S. N. i. p. 217 (1766).
Dysporus bassanus, Naum. xi. p. 14.
Sula bassana, Macg. v. p. 405 ; Hewitson, ii. p. 474; Yarr.
ed. 4, iv. p. 155; Dresser, vi. p. 181.
Fou de Bassan, French; Bass-Tolpel, Soland-Gans, Weisse
Sule, German; Alcatraz, Alcatran, Spanish.
The Gannet breeds in very large numbers on certain
isolated rocks off the coasts of Scotland and Ireland,
and also on Lundy Island in the Bristol Channel; but
as I have never been at or near any of these breeding-
stations during the breeding-season, I must refer my
readers to other authors for details of the nesting-habits
of the bird, merely stating that I have good reason to
believe that some Gannets habitually breed on the coast
of Portugal, though I am not aware that there is any
authentic record in confirmation of my opinion. A few
Gannets may be seen at almost all times of the year
in the English Channel, the Bay of Biscay, and off the
Atlantic coast as far west as Gibraltar, and occasionally
in the great western basin of the Mediterranean, but
may be considered as rare birds to the westward of