96 



THE GANNET 



beside offspring, which were so big that they almost 

 equalled their parents in size. The period of juvenescence 

 lasts a very long time compared with that of most species, 

 from the laying of the egg to the flight of the young one 

 being not less than fourteen weeks I feel sure. 



The young take to the sea in September, and from that time 

 onwards, until they learn to fish for themselves, subsist on 



A GANNET ON ITS NEST. 



their own subcutaneous fat, the layers of which surround 

 them like a jacket. How long this period of indolence lasts is 

 unknown, but possibly several weeks elapse before they begin 

 to fly ; it is true that early young ones may be seen already 

 plunging for fish in the latter part of September, but 

 these must be Gannets three months old at least. If there 

 is a gale from the west or south during this month, 

 Mr. Thomson tells me, numbers of young Gannets are to 



