386 



GANNET. 



into the water and seldom misses its prey. They 

 never dive, unless when winged by a shot, to escape 

 being taken. They are very gluttonous and are 

 often caught through becoming quite helpless with 

 over-eating. In the St. Kilda Group the birds are 

 taken with a horsehair noose slipped over tliem, in 



great numbers, and are used for food while fresh by 

 the native fishermen ; others are dried for winter use. 

 The oil obtained from them is also useful, and the 

 feathers are sold. These birds seem to become per- 

 fectly tame when breeding, and will allow themselves 

 to be approached and stroked without leaving the nest. 

 Their nest consists of simply a mass of seaweed, 



