Cartagena. These birds live exclusively upon fishes
and follow the migratory millions of herrings, pilchards,
and mackerel as long as they remain near the surface,
working their voracious will upon the hordes by day,
and sleeping on the water above them during the dark
hours ; but I know, from personal observation, that the
Gannet carries on its fishing by the light of the moon,
as I well remember that, on a certain brilliant and perfectly
still night in August, as we lay becalmed off
Ferrol, these great birds were plunging around us in all
directions in pursuit (as I believe) of sardines. The
method of fishing adopted by this bird is a constant
source of admiration and interest to those whose business
or pleasure takes them on to the sea, as the operations
of the Gannet are easy to observe: one after another, and
often many together, precipitate themselves headlong,
often from a great height, into the sea, disappear for a few
seconds, and emerge to recommence work. The flight
of the Gannet is very powerful and long-sustained, and it
is a light and graceful swimmer, though, as may well be
supposed, its actions on land are grotesque and awkward
in the extreme. For excellent details as to the very
remarkable changes of plumage in this species, from
the nest to maturity, I cannot do better than refer to
Mr. E. T. Booth s ‘Rough Notes,’ and the accompanying
illustrations by Mr. Ed. Neale.