MOVEMENTS OF THE GANNET AT THE BUTT OF LEWIS 59 



birds, one is surprised that either should have to come so far 

 in search of food for themselves or hungry nestlings. One 

 bird in a flock passing east was carrying in its bill replenishing 

 for its nest, so it obviously was a Stack bird. Why such an 

 overlapping, for evidently the Stack Gannets go west to feed 

 and the St Kildans east? 



It is unreasonable to suppose that Gannets can fish during 

 the night, so we believe that those passing after sunset are 

 making for home, though it must be late before they arrive 

 there — the Stack or St Kilda. On the other hand, from the 

 evidence of watchers at the Bass and other places, Gannets 

 are said to be seldom early, astir in the mornings, so why do 

 they pass here in small parties before sunrise, and in 

 thousands so soon after ? 



In their usual summer passing here winds do not to any 

 extent influence the direction of their flight. To reach their 

 goal they may sometimes wing their way in a more zigzag 

 and lengthened flight, but in the strongest of gales they are 

 seen flying in the teeth of the wind, low over the surface of 

 the water, and high before the breeze. They have a mission 

 to pursue — a homing instinct— and go they must, blow the 

 winds high or low. 



By the middle of September, when the family affairs of 

 the year are approaching completion — the young Gannets 

 having reached the fasting stage preparatory to descending 

 into the sea — it is noted that the number of birds passing 

 gradually lessens during daytime, and altogether ceases at 

 evening and morning twilights. They are now seen more 

 frequently flying in scattered units, or fishing close inshore, 

 until with breezy weather, and even though herring are in 

 shoals in the vicinity, they betake themselves to the open ocean, 

 there to pass a roving, discursive existence for the winter. 



[Mr Clyne's notes should be read in connection with Dr Harvie-Brown's remarks 

 on this subject in Ami. Scot. Nat. Hist., 1902, p. 203. It is there stated that " the 

 main stream of the birds do not return through the Pentland Firth till July comes 

 in, and then . . . pass from W. to E. in continuous battalions ; and not one, unless 

 fishing at the time, is ever seen to fly from E. to W. after this real movement fairly 

 sets in again." — Eus.] 



