158 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



Observations.— In Mr. Dresser's " Birds of Europe" (vol. vi, pp. 187-189) 

 will be found some interesting notes made by Mr. John Flower, on the 

 peculiar articulation of the Gannet's coracoids to its sternum, the object of 

 this being no doubt to relieve the strain on the shoulder-joint of the bird 

 when striking the water in its descent from a great height. A woodcut of 

 the Gannet's sternum is also given, illustrating Mr. Flower's remarks. 



The Gannet, or Solan Goose, visits Tunisia in winter, and although 

 not common there, is less rare than is generally supposed to be the 

 case, particularly as regards immature birds, which are more fre- 

 quently to be seen than adult examples in the white plumage. The 

 latter, indeed, do not appear to be often met with on the Tunisian 

 coasts, but occur occasionally, and I have an example in that dress 

 which was obtained near Tunis, besides immature specimens from the 

 east coast of the Regency obtained during the winter months. 



Dr. Koenig and Baron v. Erlanger both seem to have observed this 

 species off the east coast not far from Sousa. 



Though unrecorded by Loche from Algeria, the species no doubt 

 occurs there, as it does in Tunisia. 



Comparatively few Gannets enter the Mediterranean, or at any 

 rate extend their range far eastward in that sea, but according to 

 Colonel Irby, the bird appears to be common in winter in the Straits 

 of Gibraltar and along the west coast of Marocco, whence I have 

 specimens of it, both adult and immature. It does not seem to range 

 far down the West African coast, though its occurrence has been 

 recorded from the Canaries. In Italy, and particularly on the Sicilian 

 coast, the species occurs occasionally, and I have myself obtained both 

 adult and immature specimens near Palermo. In January, 1903, a 

 fine adult example was captured and brought to me alive by some 

 fishermen, who had taken it in their nets off the small Bay of Sferraca- 

 vallo, near Palermo. I kept this bird in my garden for more than two 

 months, during which time it appeared to thrive, but on the approach 

 of the warm weather, about the end of March, it died. 



An adult example of the Gannet, which is preserved in the 

 Lyceum collection at Trapani, appears to have been obtained off the 

 island of Levanzo, near that town, in the month of May, which is a 

 late date for this northern species to be found so far south. 



Besides the specimens captured in Sicily, examples of the bird 

 have been obtained in Italy from Liguria, Tuscany, Calabria and 



