18 
GANNET. 
for a stoop, on perceiving either that it has been mistaken 
in the supposed object, or that the intended prey has already 
disappeared, it sails away on a fresh voyage of discovery. 
Selby says that Gannets are long-lived birds, some that 
had been recognised from particular marks, having been 
observed to return to the same stations for upwards of forty- 
eight years. 
When engaged with their nests they become very tame, 
and will allow themselves to be stroked with the hand, 
without any sign of displeasure or alarm, beyond the utter¬ 
ance of a low guttural note. It is said that they are unable 
to rise from the water, except against the wind, and 
consequently that they ma} 7- be taken in that situation by 
being run down upon in a boat. 
They feed on fish—herrings, pilchards, anchovies, sardines, 
and sprats especially, such being found near the surface. 
They are swallowed head foremost. 
The note is a dull ‘grog, grog.’ 
Great numbers of these birds build together in the same 
situations, on the sides of precipitous cliffs and rocks, the 
nests being placed almost close to each other. These are 
made of sea-weed and grass. 
The egg, for there is only one, is white, or with a pale 
tinge of blue. 
Both parents sit; the period of incubation being about six 
weeks. 
Male; weight, between six and seven pounds; length, about 
two feet and three quarters or over, up to three feet; bill, 
pale greyish horn-colour, the tip fading into white, arid a 
little inclined down, the edges somewhat serrated. The upper 
mandible has a ridge running along it nearly from the base 
to the tip, and no nostril is apparent; the part about the 
base of the upper mandible black, which colour extends back 
over the eye in an arched form, somewhat like a spectacle. 
Iris, pale yellow, giving the bird a staring appearance; 
eyelids, blue; forehead, black. Head, crown, and neck above, 
buff-colour; nape, white; chin, dusky black on the centre 
and downwards for some distance under the gular pouch; 
throat, otherwise white; breast, white; back, white. 
The wings, which are long, have the first quill feather 
the longest. They expand to the width of six feet; greater 
and lesser wing coverts, white; primaries, black; greater and 
lesser under wing coverts, white. The tail, white, is of 
