HISTORICAL PREFACE xix. 



Thompson in preferring it to the swoop of the Golden 

 Eagle or the descent of the Peregrine Falcon on its quarry 

 ("Natural History of Ireland," III., p. 257). 



Not less remarkable is the great depth to which they 

 can dive in the pursuit of fish {see p. 407), although here 

 it is possible there have been exaggerations. 



Then the details of their nidification are so curious, and 

 the pertinacity very great with which they cling to their 

 nesting stations ; these are all on islands, and in number 

 very few compared with those of other birds. How often 

 has the now proved habit of its covering its egg with its 

 webbed foot — first noticed in 1535 by a Dane {see p. 181) — 

 been denied, yet this mode of incubation once thought 

 so incredible, is in reality not more wonderful than the 

 means which many other birds adopt. 



Then again we mark their combativeness and thieving 

 propensities, and take note of the long period of eight 

 weeks during which the young remain practically helpless. 

 Also there is the striking difference in colour between a 

 young Gannet — which retains its black plumage for nearly 

 a year — and an old one, which is white : a difference 

 greater than obtains in almost any other bird. 



It is with pleasure that we turn to the Gannet's anatomy, 

 where a fine field for research lies open. The naturalist 

 looks at the totipalmate feet, the aborted tongue, the lack 

 of nostrils, the subcutaneous air-cells, the prolongated 

 sternum, the junction of the carina and the absence of a 

 brood-spot, and reaHses that he has before him a marvel 

 of bi id-life. Fortunately the osteology of the Gannet has 

 had good investigators {see Chapter XXI.), but justice 



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