SEA-CLIFFS IN NESTING TIME 137 



of a wholesome smile. The voracity of the cormorant 

 makes it hated by fishermen ; and in estuaries where the 

 supply offish is restricted, it may become a serious nuisance, 

 and does not deserve unqualified protection. Voracious 

 birds need to be kept within reasonable limits, though their 

 voracity is not an excuse for their extermination. Gannets 

 are larger and shyer birds than cormorants, and seldom 

 haunt waters where their daily diet can make any difference 

 to the available fish supply. Their method of fishing is far 







more attractive to watch. They float and soar in air, 



while the cormorants hunt beneath the water ; then they 



plunge headlong to the sea, striking the surface with a 



resounding smack. Occasionally they feed on dead fish 



afloat, with gulls ; and then it is curious to see how in spite 



of their large size and great pointed bills, the gulls will 



drive them away from the most attractive tit-bits. 



Guillemots and other members of the auk family are 



even more thorough sea-birds than gannets and cormorants, 



and in some ways more so than the petrels. Gannets spend 



most of their time soaring and floating in air ; and the 



cormorant loves to bask and rest upon its favourite rocky 

 (1,922) ' *8 



