GANNET. 221 



shape as to resemble a mere heaped mass of material, 

 caked and matted together with slime, droppings, and 

 filth which smells most offensively, especially on a hot, 

 close day. It is made of sea-weed, turf, straws, moss, 

 stalks of thrift and campion, and is frequently patched 

 up and increased whilst incubation is in progress. The 

 cavity containing the egg is shallow, almost flat, but the 

 nest itself is sometimes as much as a foot or more in 

 height. As the birds nest in such close companionship, 

 quarrels are of frequent occurrence. The Gannet is a 

 close sitter, usually remaining on the nest until almost 

 pushed off, uttering loud cries of angry remonstrance. 

 It is a noisy bird at the breeding-place, and the din, 

 loud enough at all times, becomes almost deafening 

 when the colony is fairly aroused. Many birds may be 

 seen watching your approach with suspicion, standing 

 on their solitary egg and rolling it about from side to 

 side preparatory to flight. No pen can do justice to 

 the almost overwhelming scene of noisy confusion, as 

 the birds in thousands skim and float about in the air, or 

 stand and utter their loud, harsh cries upon their nests. 

 For further details respecting the Gannet's colonies I 

 must refer the reader to my work on Our Rarer Birds. 



RANGE OF EGG COLOURATION AND MEASUREMENT : 

 The egg of the Gannet, for, as previously remarked, 

 but one is laid, is pale bluish-green, but generally so 

 thickly coated and plastered with lime as to conceal all 

 trace of the actual colour of the shell. It soon however 

 becomes discoloured, through contact with the wet, dirty 

 nest, and the feet of the parent bird, frequently so 

 much so as to resemble the egg of a Kestrel in tint. 

 Average measurement, 3*2 inches in length, by 2*0 

 inches in breadth. The Gannet will lay several eggs in 

 succession if they are removed. Incubation, performed 

 by both sexes, lasts about six weeks. 



