480 



THE GANNET 



plumage was similar to that of the three from Grassholm, 

 briefly described on p. 432. By the time it had reached 

 sixteen months, there was not a spot of white on my 

 young Gannet's back, which was nearly black, but two- 

 thirds of its head and neck were now quite white. 



Although the moult seemed to 

 be finished, it was evident that 

 there was still some change of 

 colour going on, either by fading 

 or abrasion. The only part of 

 its body which remained in the 

 spotted plumage now was the 

 lower part of the belly. At 

 seventeen months (photograph 

 No. 7), the head and neck were 

 nearly white. At twenty-one 

 BREAST-FEATHER SHOW- months (photograph No. 8), the 



ING CHANGE OF COLOUR, i • i. j 



lesser upper wmg-coverts and a 

 part of the scapulars were white also, and three white 

 spots of some size were visible on the back. At twenty- 

 two months a shade of yellow came out on the head 

 and neck. At twenty-three the white spots or blotches on 

 the back were the size of a florin, and several new ones had 

 appeared upon the wing-coverts. At twenty-four the 

 blotches were still larger, and at twenty-five months the 



