412 THE GANNET 



to its natural buoyancy, which must be increased by its 

 internal air-cells, it swims high in the water ; and 

 unquestionably it can swim fast, as I soon found on try- 

 ing, quite in vain, to row down an injured one. As it 

 surges through the water, one may judge of the great 

 strength which those webbed feet — used alternately* — put 

 forth, by the wake in the sea left behind, but the whole 

 gait and manner of the bird has too much swing in it 

 to be graceful to my eye. There is one point of difference 

 between the old and the young when they are swimming. 

 An old Gannet always peaks its tail up, high out of the 

 water, but a young one, on the contrary, keeps it in a 

 horizontal position, and quite low. 



On land a Gannet progresses slowly, but it is not such a 

 bad walker, as some people imagine who have only seen 

 them when frightened. Then, incommoded by its long 

 wings, the alarmed bird limps along painfully enough, with 

 awkward jumps, which are a vain attempt at flight, but at 

 other times, as Mr. Booth remarks, it can get on nearly 

 as well as a domestic goose. 



Flight of the Gannet. — An impression of awe is left on the 

 mind, as one of these great white birds unfolds the vast 

 expanse of its wings, and with the most consummate ease 



* J. Lea says the Snake-Birds (Plotus) adopt an alternate stroke 

 (" Romance of Bird Life," 1909, p. 203). 



