NATURAL HISTORY. 



379 



Sub-family c. Pelecanince. 



si: LA 



, . ( : \ . 



i V' 



' i , > ',r N 

 , ,.' . 



Bassanua (L.it. t\s Gannet, or Solan Goose.} 



The Gannet feeds almost entirely on herrings, which it 

 seizes by plunging with extraordinary force from a considerable 

 height. This method of procuring food has led to an ingeni- 

 ous device for capturing the bird. A herring is fastened to 

 a board, and suffered to float on the surface of the water. 

 The Gannet, seeing the fish apparently sporting on the sur- 

 face, plunges at it with such force that it is instantly killed 

 by the blow. A Gannet was once taken when the board was 

 sunk to the depth of six feet, yet even at that depth the bird's 

 neck was dislocated, and its bill firmly stuck into the wood. 

 The length of the Gannet is about two feet eight inches. 



The Booby is a species of Gannet. Sailors have given it 

 this rather inelegant name on account of the stupidity it dis- 

 plays in suffering itself to be knocked down with a stick, or 

 even taken up by hand. 



