226 BULLETIN 121, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



seconds, the average being 6^ seconds. I also timed tliem in three descents 

 from heiglit of perhaps 60 feet and found it to be IJ, li, and 1 second, re- 

 spctively, from the beginning of the descent to the time when tliey struck tlie 

 water. This would indicate that the bird actually throws itself downward 

 and not merely drops by gravitation, as the distance traveled is too great for 

 such a quick descent by gravity alone. This is apparent without actual measure- 

 ment, and is also shown by the fact that the birds sometimes descend quickly 

 at an angle, two often aiming at the same spot. How they avoid annihilating 

 each other seems marvelous. The height of the descent is, of course, very dif- 

 ficult to judge, but my estimates are based on comparisons with the masts of 

 schooners equally distant. The height of the splash was compared with that of 

 spar buoys near the fishing grounds. As with all other sea birds at a distance, 

 observations were made with a telescope. 



The gannet is well protected against bodily injury in its terrific 

 plunges by a strong elastic cushion of air cells under the skin of its 

 breast, which softens the shock of impact as it strikes the water. The 

 gannet is a voracious feeder and undoubtedly consumes an enormous 

 number of fish ; it is not partial in its choice, though it feeds largely 

 on herring and mackerel where they are abundant in schools; it also 

 takes capelin and other species as well as small codlings. I have 

 heard it said that gannets may be easily killed by fastening a fish on 

 a floating board, for which they will dive and break their necks, 

 though this hardly seems credible. Audubon (1840) describes a 

 method of feeding which I have never seen. " At other times I have 

 seen the gannet plunge amidst a shoal of launces so as scarcely to 

 enter the water, and afterwards follow them, swimming, or as it were 

 moving, on the water, with its wings extended upwards, and striking 

 to the right and left until it was satiated." 



The gannet has a peculiar habit of disgorging whatever fish it has 

 recently eaten when disturbed and forced to fly; it goes through a 

 series of preliminary motions, pumping its neck up and down, strain- 

 ing, gaping, and retching until the fish is finally forced out of its 

 mouth and deposited on the ledge near the nest, where it is left to 

 decay or dry in the sun. These fish are often as much as a foot in 

 length and generally partly digested. I am not sure whether this 

 habit is caused by fright or by a desire to get rid of unnecessary 

 weight ; probably the latter, as it is a very docile or very stupid bird 

 and not easily frightened away. It is easily approached with a little 

 caution, and I even caught one in my hands, but usually if I came too 

 near the disgorging process would begin, it would move awkwardly 

 away, uttering a variety of loud guttural croaks or grunts, until it 

 could flop off over the edge of the cliff, spread its long, black-tipped 

 wings and sail gracefully out into space, a sudden transformation 

 from an ungainly, awkward, stupid fowl to an elegant, soaring sea- 

 bird, riding at ease on its broad and powerful wings, one of nature's 

 triumphs in the balancing of forces. 



