266 



WITH X A TUBE AXD A UAMEBA. 



morning on July Ttli, 1897, when we found the 

 Solan Geese still busy building, or perhaps, more 

 strictly speaking, repairing tlieir nests, for I saw 

 one hard at work adding to its nursery of sea- 

 Aveed, although it contained a good-sized young 

 one. 



It was quite comical to watch one of these 

 great birds come creeping along the edge of a cliff, 

 in the face of a stiff breeze, witli an immense 



GANNETS ON THE WING. 



tang-le of weed hanoino; from its l)ill in such a 

 way as to form a kind of rudder, whose eccentric 

 flappings made its bearer wol)ble strangely in 

 flight. 



I saw two liirds steal tlie materials of a neigh- 

 bours nest, wlii<'li tlicN' ])ulh'd almost to pieces 

 during her temporary absence, caused by our pic- 

 ture-making efforts ; and close to the same })lace 

 wo witnessed a terrible battle, which ended in l)oth 

 the contestants rolling in a confused licaj) right 

 over the cliff. 



Ganncts with young are very easy birds to 

 pliotograph, as tliev will allow the naturalist to 

 walk about amongst tliciii willi no more pi'otcst 



