124 THE GANNET 



when it returns from its Fishing [it] carries along with 

 it Five or Six Herrings in its Gorget, all entire and un- 

 digestedj upon whose arrival at the Nest, the Hatching Fowl 

 puts its Head in the Fisher's Throat, and pulls out the Fish 

 with its Bill as with a Pincer, and that with very great noise ; 

 which I had occasion frequently to observe. They continue 

 to pluck Grass for their Nests from their coming in March 

 till the Young Fowl is ready to Fly in August or September, 

 according as the Inhabitants take or leave the First or 

 Second Eggs. It's remarkable of them, that they never 

 pluck Grass but on a Windy day ; the reason of which I 

 enquired of the Inhabitants, who said that a Windy day 

 is the Solan Goose's Vacation from Fishing, and they bestow 

 it upon this Employment, which proves fatal to many of 

 them ; for after their fatigue they often fall asleep, and 

 the Inhabitants laying hold on this opportunity, are ready 

 at hand to knock them on the Head ; their Food is Herring, 

 Mackrels, and Syes * ; English Hooks are often found in 

 the Stomachs both of Young and Old Solan Geese, though 

 there be none of this kind used nearer than the Isles Twenty 

 Leagues distant ; the Fish pulhng away the Hooks in those 

 Isles go to St. Kilda, or are carried by the Old Geese thither ; 

 whether of the two the Reader is at liberty to judge." The 

 latter supposition is I think the more probable of the two. 

 * The Coal Fish, Gadus virens. 



