410 SULA BASSANA. 



few individuals remain during the winter. The nests are 

 composed of grass and sea-weeds, generally placed on the 

 bare rock or earth, elevated in the form of a truncated cone, 

 of which the base is about twenty inches in diameter, with a 

 shallow terminal cavity. On the summit of the island are 

 numerous holes in the turf, formed by the Gannets in pulling 

 away grass and turf for their nests. They are placed in all 

 parts of the rocks where a convenient spot occurs, but are 

 much more numerous towards the summit. Some of them 

 on the face of the rock, or in a shallow fissure, and which 

 have been occupied for years, are piled up to the height of 

 from three to five feet ; but in this case they always lean 

 against the rock. The egg, which is solitary, and presents 

 nothing remarkable in its position, is of an elongated oval 

 form, white, dull, with a chalky surface, usually sullied or 

 patched with yelloAvish-brown dirt. It is subjected to what 

 might appear rough usage, for the bird in alighting, flying 

 ofi", or when disturbed by the intrusion of human visitors, 

 tosses it about, and often stands upon it. All the movements 

 of the Gannet on land are very awkward : it hobbles and 

 waddles when it tries to walk, stares at you with its goggle, 

 white eyes, opens its ugly black throat, and emits a torrent 

 of crackling sounds. 



When sitting, the Gannets usually allow a person to 

 approach within three feet, sometimes much nearer, so that 

 one may even touch them. When one approaches them, they 

 merely open their bill, and utter their usual cry, or they rise 

 on their feet and express some degree of resentment, but 

 seem to have very little apprehension of danger. They take 

 advantage of the absence of their neighbours to pilfer the 

 materials of their nests, frequently two join in the act, and 

 occasionally two may be seen tugging at the same bunch, 

 endeavouring to wrest it from each other. They are con- 

 stantly repairing their nests, which being composed in a 

 great measure of sea-weeds, shrink up in dry weather and 

 decompose in wet ; and Avhen seated close together they have 

 frequent quarrels. I saw one seize its neighbour by the back 

 of the neck, and hold fast, until the assaulted bird, I may 

 say, roared out ; but in general they are satisfied with menac- 



