498 



WEB-FOOTED BIRDS. 



linger on the coast throughout the winter. An individual 

 killed near Mount's bay, made, as is common with this bird, 

 a long struggle with a water spaniel, assisted by a boatman, 

 showing himself both strong and pugnacious, and suffi- 

 ciently redeeming on his part the gannet family from the ill 

 supported charge of cowardice and stupidity. 



Many years ago, a Gannet flying over Penzance, and 

 seeing some pilchards lying on a fir-plank, in a cellar used 

 for curing fish, darted down with such violence, that it 

 struck its bill through the board, and broke its neck. 



These birds appear to have a strong predilection for par- 

 ticular spots. On the Gannet Rock, in the Bay of the St. 

 Lawrence, they are seen in amazing multitudes. This rock, 

 (according to Audubon, from whom we derive the interest- 

 ing information,) is 400 feet in height, and several acres in 

 extent on the summit. At that time, the 8th of June, it 

 was covered with innumerable birds upon their nests, so 

 crowded or closely arranged as to give the appearance of a 

 huge mass of snow, while the hoverina crowds seen around 

 this inaccessible marine mountain, forcibly presented at a 

 distance the actual appearance of a snow storm. While 

 thus engaged, the report of a musket did not seem in the 

 least to alarm them; and defenceless, while obeying this 

 powerful instinct, they allow themselves to be approached 

 and dispatched without using any means for escape, ap- 

 pearing riveted to the spot, while engaged in the affections 

 and cares of reproduction. 



The nest of the Gannet is composed chiefly of sea-weed, 

 and oenerally placed upon the most inaccessible parts of the 

 highest rocks. The egg, (only one being laid before they 

 hatch,) is white, and very like to that of the Cormorant, but 

 not near so large as the egg of the Goose, weighing about 

 3^ ounces. 



The Gannet seems incapable of diving, at least no alarm 



