182 BRITISH (SEA) BIRDS. 
ming, but they are merely resting, not fishing. The 
captured fish is invariably swallowed at once. The 
sitting birds are kept well supplied with fish by their 
mates. These fish, however, are not conveyed to 
them in the beak, but in the gullet, from which they 
are disgorged, and left by the nest side to be eaten 
as required. Very often a Gannet will disgorge 
several large fish before leaving its nest, whilst many 
more fish are brought to the rocks than are actually 
eaten. The Gannet is a voracious eater, and often 
so gorges itself with food as to be incapable of flight. 
The power of wing of this beautiful bird is wonder- 
ful in the extreme. I have seen the Gannet re- 
peatedly keep the air for hours together, apparently 
without effort, wheeling in graceful curves, and 
ascending to vast heights, just as Vultures are wont 
to do. 
Although the Gannet is a resident in British 
waters, it seldom comes near land except to breed. 
During the nesting season it is very gregarious, 
and some of its stations contain many thousands 
of pairs. Early in the spring Gannets begin to 
assemble at the breeding places, and towards the 
end of April nest building commences. The nests 
are made either on the ledges of the cliffs, amongst 
the broken rock fragments at the summit, or on 
the flat table-like tops of pinnacles and stacks. 
Where the birds are numerous and the accom- 
modation limited, great numbers of nests are 
crowded together; and as may readily be inferred, 
