566 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 
not, however, always the case, for a correspondent 
of the ‘ Zoologist, in the volume for 1868 (Second 
Series, p. 1866), describing the breeding station at 
Ailsa Craig, says they built at all parts of the cliffs, 
from the highest parts of the rock to close down to 
the sea: the nests were very large, made of coarse 
campion-stalks, fern-leaves, sea-weed, &c., and lned 
with finer grass and weed. ‘The same correspondent 
also says it 1s a very interesting sight in the evening 
to watch those who had been fishing come back to 
their mates on their nests, who welcome them with a 
satisfied cackle, which changes to a choking gulp as 
they swallow the fish which their partners have dis- 
sorged. 
The food of the Gannet appears to consist entirely 
of fish, and consequently the flesh must always be 
very fishy and unpleasant—at least I can answer for 
that of one that I tasted when in Scotland, where the 
Solan Goose is considered rather good, and even a 
whet to the appetite: nicely cooked it looks very 
good and much like an ordinary Goose, but the 
similarity ends there. 
The adult Gannet is a beautiful bird: the bill is 
of a pale greyish blue, sharp and pointed at the end, 
and without the hook of the Cormorant; the irides 
are pale straw-yellow; the head and back of the neck 
buff; all the rest of the plumage, except the primary 
quills, is pure white; the primary quills are black, 
the outside ones very long, but decreasing in length 
