2l8 LLOYDS NATURAL HISTORY. 



Nest. — A bulky and rough structure of sticks or seaweed, 

 with sometimes a Httle straw, &c. 



Eggs. — Three or four in number, but often only two are laid. 

 They resemble those of the Cormorant and have the same 

 chalky covering to the shell, but are somewhat smaller. Axis, 

 2'3-2"6 inches; diam., i*35-i*5 inches. 



THE GANNETS. SUB-ORDER SUL^. 



The Gannets are very closely allied to the Cormorants, and 

 like them have all the four toes joined together by a web, 

 which gives them great swimming and diving powers. In 

 osteological and anatomical characters they are also very 

 similar to the Cormorants, but the bill is nearly straight and 

 only slightly deflected at the tip, not being hooked as in 

 Phalacrocorax. They have a small gular sac, which is for the 

 most part bare. As in the Cormorants, the feet are placed far 

 back and the tarsus alone is bare. The changes of plumage 

 undergone by the Gannets is, however, quite different to that 

 of the Cormorants. Gannets are found all over the world, but 

 do not go very far to the north or south. 



THE TRUE GANNETS. GENUS DYSPORUS. 



Bysponis^ IHiger, Prodr. p. 279 (181 1). 



Type, D. bassaiius (L.). 



I. THE GANNET. DYSPORUS BASSANUS. 



Fekca?ius bassa7ius, Linn. S. N. i. p. 217 (1766). 



Stila bassana, Macg. Br. B. v. p. 405 (1852); Dresser, B. Eur. 



vi. p. 181, pi. 392 (1880); B. O. U. List Br. B. p. 106 



(1883); Saunders, ed. Yarr. Br. B. iv. p. 155 (1884); 



Seebohm, Br. B. iii. p. 643 (1885); Saunders, Man. Br. 



B. p. 353 (1889); Lilford, Col. Fig. Br. B. part xii. 



(1890). 



[Pla/e LHI.) 



Adult Male. — General colour above and below pure white, 

 with a tinge of ochreous-buff on the head and neck ; bastard- 

 wing, primary-coverts, and primary-quills black ; tail-fealhers 

 white, with yellowish shafts ; bill pale bluish-grey, tinged with 



