CHAPTER XI. 



ESTIMATE OF THE NUMBER OF GANNETS. 



An estimate of the total Gannet population — Comparison with 

 that of other Sea-birds — The Kittiwake — The Guillemot — The 

 Puffin — Puffins thought to be the most abundant sea-birds in 

 Europe. 



An estimate of the total Gannet population. — The 

 desirability of attempting censuses of some of our native 

 birds was a favourite idea of John Wolley, and that acute 

 observer even regarded it as one of the chief requirements of 

 British ornithology . Difficult of application as was any sort 

 of scheme, the idea did not fail to meet with Professor 

 Newton's support, and after Wolley's death he made public 

 the latter's views, as well as his own, on the subject.* The 

 idea, however, of endeavouring to make an actual count of 

 birds which nest in large communities — as the rock-breeding 

 sea-fowl do — had either not at that time been thought of, 

 or had been dismissed as impracticable. Yet it is among 

 this class of birds that the most feasible hope of effecting 

 a census Avith any degree of accuracy lies. Now, if there is 



* " On the possibility of taking an Ornithological Census," " Ibis," 

 1861, p. 190, and " Proc. Linnean Society, 1802 (Zool.)," p. 23. 



