186 THE TxANNET 



They [the birds] are easily taken, nor do they drive away 

 their captors." 



The rest of Gesner's account is borrowed from Hector 

 Boethius. Peter Swave and Gesner are the first authors to 

 make mention of the Gannet's placing its foot upon its 

 egg, a strange departure from the usual habit which 

 obtains among birds. The knowledge of this fact he 

 evidently derived " ex erudito homine Scoto," who, Professor 

 Newton considered, was the St. Clare whose liberality is 

 acknowledged at the head of Gesner's article. It is curious 

 that he should have thought that Gannets only went six 

 miles away from land. With John Major's " History " Gesner 

 was probably unacquainted. 



10. Olaus Magnus. " Historia de gentibus septentrion- 

 alibus." Lib. XTX., de avibus, cap. 9 (1555). As Olaus 

 Magnus' account is taken almost word for word from John 

 Major it is unnecessary to occupy space by quoting it. 

 Mr. Mullens informs me that the same is repeated 

 in Olaus Magnus's " History of the Goths, Swedes, and 

 Vandals." (Translation.) 1658, p. 198. 



11. The next author to be cited is Dr. Caius : " De 

 rariorum animalium," some extracts from which are re- 

 printed with a translation in the appendix to Mr. Evans's 

 edition of Turner.* Its full title is : — " Joannis Caii Britanni 



* (1903) p. 195, appendix. 



