DESCRIPTION, DISTRIBUTION, HABITS 



and are responsible for the destruction of huge quantities of 

 edible fish. They often assemble in large numbers and 

 drive the shoals of young fish into the shallows. The 

 nesting season is between December and June. They 

 nest chieHy on the small islands off the western coast of the 

 Colony and South-West Africa. They also nest on a small 

 island named St Croix, in Algoa Bay. The nest is built on the 

 ground and composed of the stalks of the plants growing on the 

 islands, supplemented with sticks and different odds and ends 

 which they may pick up. They lay from 3 to 5 eggs. 

 These are oval in shape, and are really of a pale blue colour, 

 but are always covered with a chalky-white layer of lime. They 

 measure approximately 2.15 by 1.35- 



These birds are large contributors to the guano deposits. 

 The guano is collected from the nest sites after the breeding 

 season is over and the birds have departed. 



Malagash, or Cape Gannet {Sula capensis). (Vol. II., 

 P- 195O 

 Description. — General colour above white. On crown, 

 sides of neck, and nape, light straw colour. Primary coverts 

 and tail feathers brownish-black. Tail consists of twelve 

 feathers. Iris dirty white. Eyelids light blue. Skin round 

 eye and on the throat black. Bill pale dirty blue. Legs black. 

 Line of scales blue. Claws horny-white. 



Lengthy 35.0 ; wing, 18.75 ; tail, 8.0. 



The young bird is a dark smoky-brown all over, flecked 

 here and there with white. The bird assumes the white 

 plumage of the adult very slowly. The breast changes first and 

 lastly the back, in the second year. 



Distribution. — The malagash is found on the coasts of 

 Africa, from French Congo on west to Zanzibar on east. 

 Abundant on coasts of the Cape, particularly the western coast. 



Habits. — ^This bird is never met with far out at sea or 

 far inland, but frequents the seacoast. It is a powerf^ul flier, 

 and is a good swimmer. They can often be seen in huge 



