6i6 G A N N E T. Class II. 



narrow paths, where (to appearance) they can bare- 

 ly cling, and that too, at an amazing height over 

 the raging fea : or elie being lowered down from 

 above, they collecl: their annual provifion, thus 

 hanging in midway air ; placing their whole de- 

 pendance on the uncertain footing of one perfon 

 who holds the rope, by which they are fufpended 

 at the top of the precipice. The young birds are 

 a favorite dim with the North Britons in general : 

 during the feafon they are conftantly brought from 

 the Bafs IJle to Edinburgh, fold at 20 d. a piece, 

 are roafted, and ferved up a little before dinner as 

 a whet. 



The Gannets are birds of paffage. Their firft ap- 

 pearance in thofe iflands is in March ; their conti- 

 nuance there till Auguft or September, according as 

 the inhabitants take or leave their firft egg; but in 

 general, the time of breeding, and that of their de- 

 parture, feems to coincide with the arrival of the 

 herring, and the migration of that fifh (which is 

 their principal food) out of thofe feas. It is pro- 

 bable that thefe birds attend the herring and pilch- 

 ard during their whole circuit round the Britijh 

 iflands ; the appearance of the former being al- 

 ways efteemed by the fifhermen as a fure prefage 

 of the approach of the latter. It migrates in queft 

 of food as far fouth as the mouth of the Tagus, 

 being frequently feen off Lijbon during the month 

 of December, plunging for Sardina, fifli refembling, 

 if not the fame with our Pilchard, 



I have 



