220 THE BIBDS OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 



The breeding-places of this fine bird in the United 

 Kingdom are confined to the well-known Bass Kock, 

 in the Firth of Forth, some four islands lying to the 

 west of Scotland, one or two off the south-west coast 

 of Ireland, and one or two in the Bristol Channel. 

 As I know but very little of the present species at 

 its breeding-haunts, and it is very certain that it is 

 not likely to breed in our district, 1 must refer those 

 of my readers who are interested in this branch of 

 the Gannet's history to the often-quoted work to 

 which I constantly turn for information on British 

 birds, the 4th edition of Yarrell. 



In the late summer, autumn, and winter the 

 Gannet ranges far and wide over the North Atlantic ; 

 I have seen a good many off the coasts of our southern 

 counties, all over the Bay of Biscay, and the coasts 

 of Spain and Portugal at all seasons between May and 

 February, but very few in the Mediterranean, except 

 close to the eastern side of the Rock of Gibraltar, at 

 any time of year. A horde of Gannets in pursuit of 

 a " school " of pilchards, sardines, or mackerel is a 

 most interesting sight, the great birds wheeling at a 

 considerable height, and plunging head foremost 

 after their prey. The last occasion on which I had 

 the pleasure of witnessing a scene of this sort was in 

 the early part of 1879, whilst steaming in my yacht 

 round Cape St. Vincent, on a perfectly calm and 

 cloudless day, the rocks below and about the monas- 

 tery on the Cape were literally swarming with 

 Gannets and Gulls ; we were close inshore, the long 

 westerly swell breaking high against the cliffs, the 

 glittering spray constantly sent flying by the plunges 

 of the great white birds, the glorious sunshine and 

 deep blue sky, made an impression upon my mind 



