60 



Economic Status. This order, being composed of large birds, all fish- 

 eaters, and many of them frequenting inshore or inland waters in consider- 

 able numbers, is open to a certain amount of suspicion as to its economic 

 effect. However, no step should be taken against any species until careful 

 investigation has proved its necessity. 



FAMILY SULID^. GANNETS OR BOOBIES. 



General Description. Large birds, mostly white when adult, bill sharp and straight 

 without hook or pronounced throat or gular pouch. 



Distinctions. The bill characters of this family serve to distinguish it from all except- 

 ing Tropic Birds, one species of which has been taken off Newfoxindland. As the Tropic 

 Birds, however, have enormously elongated middle tail feathers there is little chance of 

 confusion, even if they were not too rare in our waters to merit detailed consideration here. 



The Gannets are strictly marine birds never seen away from the sea 

 except as stragglers. The family on the whole is tropical and only one 

 species occurs in Canada. 



117. Gannet. solan goose, pr. — le fou de bassan. (old French — j. cartier- 

 morgaud) m argot. Sula bassana. L, 35. A completely-webbed swimmer with straight 

 bill without pronounced hook or conspicuous throat or gular pouch. 



Distinctions. The bill characters are distinctive. The adult is piu-e white except for 

 the black primaries and a rich creamy suffusion over the crown and hindneck. The young 

 bird of the year is greyish-brown, lighter below, and each feather has a small white V at 

 the tip that gives an even mottUng over all. Several intermediate spotted stages occur 

 between these plumages. 



Field Marks. Dazzling white body and black wing tips of the adult are distinctive. 

 The habit of diving from the wing, entering the water head first Uke an arrow, and remain- 

 ing under an appreciable length of time is also characteristic. Terns dive from the wing 

 but they rise again almost immediately and seldom completely disappear from sight hke 

 the Gannet. Even were it otherwise the great difference in size would be diagnostic. 



Nesting. In large communities on the rocky shelves of sea cliffs; nests made of sea- 

 weed. 



Distribution. Both sides of the north Atlantic, breeding in Canada only on Bird Rock 

 off the Magdalen islands, and on Bonaventure island, Gaspe county, Quebec, both stations 

 being in the guff of St. Lawrence. 



The Gannet had at one time a much wider and commoner distribution 

 than now, nesting as it did on many of the rocky islets on both sides of the 

 north Atlantic. Of very slight value either for food or other uses, except 

 in the most primitive communities, it has been driven from one breeding 

 station after another until in the New World only two remain and, unless 

 prompt measures are taken, these will likely go the way of the others. 



Economic Status. Though the Gannets have been accused of doing 

 considerable damage to fishing interests their harmful effects have been 

 much overestimated. The greater part of the life of the Gannets is spent 

 on or near the deep sea. When they come inshore for breeding purposes 

 they can make very little impression on the mighty shoals of herring and 

 other fish they pursue. 



FAMILY PHALACROCORACID^. CORMORANTS. 



General Description. Large birds of black or very dark coloration, with bills ending 

 in a decided hook and with a small throat or gular pouch. 

 Distinctions. BiU and small gular pouch are diagnostic. 



