164 THE GANNET 



he says a few settle on the Skerry, probably during fogs, 

 and being unable to rise from the ground generally die 

 there. So little that is definite is known at present about 

 this settlement of Gannets, and the numbers which compose 

 it, that I am afraid of rating it higher than 5,000, but its 

 strength must be more than that if 1,000 young ones can 

 be gathered from only a small portion of the Stack.* 



* In another chapter I propose citing a number of statistics of Gannets 

 seen, for the most part in bands, passing the Butt of Lewis, Cape Wrath, 

 aud Pentland Skerries ; these statistics were all kept for Mr. Harvie-Brown 

 by lighthouse keepers, who have exceptional opportunities for watching. 



