DJSTRIBUTION OF THE GANNET 35 



hardly a fair way of dealing with it. There must be two 

 maps, which are necessary to show approximately what its 

 distribution is at the two seasons. Though on both sides 

 of the Atlantic the furthest winter range of the Gannet 

 extends beyond the Tropic of Cancer, that cannot be 

 regarded as its normal range. Mr. Meade-Waldo says it 

 is occasionally abundant at the Canary Islands,* but it 

 seems to be rare off the Azoresf and Madeira, while it is 

 more than likely that any Gannets seen off the Cape Verde 

 Islands would be Sula capensis, the difference between them 

 not being recognisable at a distance.! 



In the Straits of Gibraltar and vicinity I have taken 

 pleasure in watching the Gannet, and on the testimony of 

 several witnesses it is common there. § On occasion it is 

 reported to be extraordinarily abundant off the south of 

 Portugal and Spain, especially in winter, and, in 1908, Miss 

 Buxton saw large numbers at Cape St. Vincent as late in 

 the spring as April 7tli. When off the south of Spain, after 

 gales in the autumn of 1880, Mr. Anderson passed through 

 what he describes as " acres of Gannets," || and many more 



* "Ibis," 1893, p. 198. f " Novitates Zool.," XII., p. 110. 



f Three or foiu- Gannets at the Canaries had black tails (" Ibis," 1889, 

 p. 508). 



§ Cf. " Ibis." 1867, p. 430 ; 1871, p. 398 ; 1885, p. 249 ; " Orn. S. of Gib.," 

 p. 207. 



I| " Rep. Migr. of Birds," 1880, p. 90. 



d2 



