COMMON GANNET. 413 



way up the sounds, generally along the shore. They fly 

 steadily, and with considerable rapidity, moving in a uniform 

 manner, without undulations, by means of rather quick 

 motions of the extended Avings, which are never brought 

 against the sides. They proceed to great distances, many of 

 them going as far as the coasts of Skye, others dispersing 

 along the western and eastern shores of the Long Island. 

 When they reach the places where they are accustomed to 

 fish, they slacken their flight, move backw' ards and forwards 

 along the coast, at a height of from fifteen to thirty feet above 

 the surface of the water, now and then dart down to seize a 

 fish, and, rising again, pursue their occupation. When the 

 wind is high, and beats against a rocky promontory, one may 

 in favoiirable situations have good shooting, for in doubling the 

 cape they come very close upon the rocks. In the evenings, 

 before sunset, they are seen retiiing westward in strings, 

 with the same rapid and steady motion as in the morning. 



The Gannet never swims continuously on the water, 

 although it floats there buoyantly, nor is it capable of diving 

 from its surface. When, in flying about in search of food, it 

 perceives a fish, it suddenly turns, and descends headlong, 

 with such force as to leave, where it has disappeared, a spot 

 covered with foam, as if a large stone had fallen from a great 

 height into the sea. It rises in a few" seconds, and so light 

 and buoyant does it seem that in emerging it nearly springs 

 out of the water. It then rests a few moments on the sur- 

 face, and taking wing, ascends to rencAv its search. It rises 

 heavily, however, making a splutter with its wings for several 

 yards, before it gets fairly on wing. A common opinion, 

 even of those who see it daily, is, that on perceiving a fish, it 

 immediately throws itself on its back, and so darts down. I 

 have often closely w^atched its motions, but never observed 

 this reversion, although it certainly does take an abrupt turn 

 in certain cases, as when a fish glances in the water at some 

 distance behind it, or on either side, and then, in executing a 

 sudden turn or oblique motion, it seems to turn upon its 

 back, as I have frequently observed. It very seldom flies 

 across a neck of land, but doubles the point. I saw an 

 instance, however, where one had adventured across an isth- 



