378 • SWIMMERS. 



innumerable birds upon their nests, so crowded or closely ar- 

 ranged as to give the appearance of a huge mass of snow, while 

 the hovering crowds seen around this inaccessible marine moun- 

 tain forcibly presented at a distance the actual appearance of a 

 snow-storm. While thus engaged, the report of a musket did 

 not seem in the least to alarm them ; and defenceless while 

 obeying this powerful instinct, they allow themselves to be 

 approached and despatched without using any means for 

 escape, appearing riveted to the spot, while engaged in the 

 affections and cares of reproduction. 



The nest of the Gannet is composed chiefly of sea-weed, 

 and generally placed upon the most inaccessible parts of the 

 highest rocks. The egg (only one being laid before hatching) 

 is white, and very like that of the Cormorant, but not nearly 

 so large as the egg of the Goose, weighing about three and 

 a quarter ounces. 



The Gannet seems incapable of diving, — at least, no alarm 

 can force it to immerse. Upon the water it swims as buoyantly 

 as a Gull. When offered fish it will accept, but will never go 

 into a pond after food; and from every appearance of its 

 actions on water, to which it will go only from compulsion, it 

 cannot procure fish beyond the extent of its neck. At times 

 these birds rise from the water with so much difificulty that 

 they are easily run down by a boat ; but when thus surprised 

 they defend themselves with much vigor. 



Within a few years this species has deserted Gannet Rock, near 

 Grand Menan, though a large number still gather on the Magdalen 

 Islands, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. They continue to breed 

 further northward, and in winter range south to the Gulf of Mexico. 



Mr. William Brewster reports that in 1881 he found some fifty 

 thousand birds nesting on one of those islands, and describes the 

 number as astonishing and impressive, but insignificant when com- 

 pared with the legions seen there by Dr. Bryant some twenty years 

 before. 



The food of this species consists entirely of fish, which it procures 

 by diving from the wing, plunging into the water from a great 

 height, — sometimes a hundred yards or more. When pursued or 

 wounded, it rarely or never dives, trusting to its flight, which is 

 strong and rapid. 



