492 



THE GANNET 



round the pupil. At nineteen weeks its hue continued 

 practically unchanged. At seven months this Gannet's 

 eye might have been called purplish-grey. At twelve 

 months there was no perceptible alteration in tint, but 

 at twenty-four months there was some whiteness. The eye 

 may be termed quite white when a Gannet is adult, but 

 on close inspection there will be seen a network of minute 

 lines within the cornea, the face or exterior of which is less 

 convex than in some birds. 



At the age of about seven months, a Gannet exhibits 

 a ring of blue skin round the eye, which has not greatly 

 increased in intensity at seventeen months, but ultimately 

 it turns to a bright blue in an adult. It is probably never 

 so brilliant in the autumn as in the spring. The strip of 

 skin between this point and the beak, commonly called 

 the lore, is horn-colour. 



Principal Measureynents. — The following measurements 

 were taken from a fine adult : — 



