FOOD AND FISHING 



393 



the other extended in the air. These antics, which I considered a sign 

 of health, were as often as not accompanied by a scratching of the head 

 with the claw or claws, the middle one of which has a comb-like edge, 

 perhaps to allay some irritation caused by parasites, of which Mr. William 

 Evans has found on them four distinct kinds, Ixodes pntus, C, 

 Docophorus bassance, D., Lipeurus staphylinoides, D., and a Lipeurus not 

 determined. Mr. Blake-Ivnox has seen Shag^s remove ticks with the 

 serrated claw (" Zoologist," 1866, p. 251), and Gannets may do likewise. 

 Though marvellously longsighted, Gannets appear to be unable to 



GANNET CATCHING FISH THROWN TO IT. 



distinguish near objects on land, and will mistake a man's hand for a 

 fish, when a few feet away. Adept enough at catching a fish thrown 

 into the air, they are much less so at picking up a dead one when it lies 

 in the water, even though hungry. Salted fish should never be given to 

 Gannets or other sea-birds, under any circumstances. If fresh fish are not 

 obtainable, liver from the butcher will do sufficiently well for a time. 



I thought it quite unnecessary to pinion them, but found they were 

 able to rise against a strong wind, and one day with a gale from the west 

 two of them escaped from their enclosure : one was recaptured, but the 

 other was last seen mounting over the trees in the park, and although 

 advertised for was never heard of again, and I imagine it reached the sea. 



