30(5 



THE GANNET 



more or less filth about the nests, broken eggs, decaying fish 

 and excrement, the ledges often being completely white- 

 washed with the latter. They have a curious habit of 

 disgorging whatever fish they have recently eaten when 



lA. C. Bent, Phot. 



GANNET S NESTS ON BIRD ROCK. 



they are disturbed and forced to fly away ; they go through 

 a series of preliminary motions, pumping their necks up 

 and down, straining, gaping and retching until the fish 

 is finally forced out of the mouth and deposited on the 

 ledge near the nest, where it is left to decay or dry in the 



