174 THE GANNET 



Juniores anates aut anserculos in terra vicina vendunt ; 

 si ex his bis vel ter comederis sapidissimae apparebunt. 

 Aves enim istse pinguissimae sunt, earumque pingue 

 artificiose extrahunt, quod in multis medicationibus prodest, 

 & partes macras earum vendunt. In fine autumni rupem 

 triduo circumvolitant & postea agminatim ad partes 

 meridionales pro tota hyeme avolant, ut illic vivant in 

 sestate : quia quando nobis est hyems, meridionalibus est 

 sestas. Diutissime hse aves vivunt, quod per quasdam 

 insuper signatas incolse perpenderunt. Triginta aut 

 quadraginta in rupe bellatores harum avium fructus alit, 

 & domino rupis nonnihil vectigalis penditur." 



The following translation of Major's narrative is taken 

 with some slight alterations from the " Publications of the 

 Scottish History Society " (Vol. V., p. 34, Constable's 



e 1 lOnj . TRANSLATION. 



" Near to Gleghorni^,* in the ocean, at a distance of two 

 leagues, is the Bass Rock, wherein is an impregnable strong- 

 hold. Round about it is seen a marvellous multitude of 

 great ducksf (which they call Sollends) that live on fish. 

 These fowl are not of the very same species with the common 

 wild duck or with the domestic duck ; but inasmuch as they 

 very nearly resemble them in colour and in shape, they 

 share with them the common name, but for the sake of 

 distinction are called solans. These ducks then, or these 



* Where Major was born. 



f Major used " Duck " (Anas) as inclusive of Geese {Anser and Bernicla) 

 or he would hardly have said the Gannet resembled them. Mr. A. H. Evans 

 suggests {in lift.) " Waterfowl " as the better equivalent of Anas, which it 

 is in the sense that Major appUes it. 



