THE NESTLING 367 



mouth of the old one, from which it is deriving nourish- 

 ment. 



As the young Gannets get bigger, the parents continue to 

 bring fish to the ledges in increasingly large quantities. 

 This bringing home of supplies goes on all through July 

 and August, but anyone who merely observes the old birds 

 from a distance would think they were returning empty- 

 handed to their nests, as no fish, or signs of fish, are visible 

 when they are flying. This part of the proceedings of the 

 parent Gannets is also very well described by Mr. Booth, 

 who says — "The whole of the food carried to the Rock is 

 swallowed when caught, and afterwards disgorged either on 

 or close to the nest. The pieces of fish, which are thrown 

 up, whether whole or in fragments, are again greedily 

 devoured with much clamour by both parents. When their 

 meal is partially digested the young bird is fed. . . . 

 In the half -rotten mass of fish on some of the ledges it is 

 easy to recognise the result of each catch lying in the shape 

 in which it was disgorged. Half a dozen herrings or three 

 or four mackerel may commonly be noticed neatly and 

 compactly wedged together. In some instances the heads 

 are partially digested ; this probably occurs after a protracted 

 journey in quest of food. As many as half a dozen such parcels 

 of fish are at times to be counted round a single nest."* 



* " Rough Notes," Vol. III. 



