PLUMAGE 493 



Macgillivray gives the length of four Gannets as thirty-six 

 inches, thirty-seven inches, thirty -three inches, and thirty- 

 five and a half inches; and of three North American examples 

 as thirty-eight and three-quarters, thirty-eight and three- 

 quarters, and thirty-seven (" British Birds," V., p. 420). 

 It would thus appear that American Gannets are slightly 

 larger than those of Europe. Mr. J. Stilfox has met with 

 Gannets on the Coast of Ireland which were six feet ten 

 inches in expanse, from tip to tip of wing (" The Field," 

 September 5th, 1896), which is a foot more than two 

 measured by me. 



The Weight of a Oannet. — Birds, like human beings, 

 vary in size and bulk, and are often heavier whilst in 

 immature plumage than when adult. This probably arises 

 from an excess of fat, as the bones would not get smaller, 

 though possibly lighter, but even individuals of the same 

 age are found to differ. An adult Gannet, lying dead on 

 the shore, which may have wasted a little, only weighed 

 4 lb. ; another, held up alive with its legs tied, weighed 4 lb. 

 4 oz. ; while another, a breeding bird in good condition, 

 turned the scale at 6 lb. 5 oz. Of course it goes without 

 saying, that young Gannets, before their parents have begun 

 to starve them, are a great deal heavier than old ones, 

 owing to the mass of accumulated fat which they put on 



