560 PELECANIDvE. 



mastication. If unsuccessful, it rises immediately, and 

 resumes its hunting. It is sometimes seen swimming, 

 perhaps to rest itself, for I did not observe that it ever 

 dived on these occasions. My companion told me that 

 the fishermen on the coast of Ireland say that, if chased 

 by a boat when seen swimming, it becomes so terrified as 

 to be unable to rise. The real reason may be that it is 

 gorged with food. He was once in a boat on the Lough, 

 when, a Gannet being seen a long way ahead, it was 

 determined to give chase, and ascertain whether the 

 statement was correct. As the boat drew near, the Gannet 

 endeavoured to escape by swimming ; but made no attempt 

 either to dive or to use its wings. After a pretty long 

 chase, the bowman secured it in spite of a very severe bite 

 which it inflicted on his hand, and carried it home in 

 triumph. It did not appear to have received any injury, 

 and when released, in the evening of the same day, swam 

 out to sea with great composure. A fisherman in Islay 

 told me that in some parts of Scotland a singular method 

 of catching Gannets is adopted. A herring is fastened to 

 a board and sunk a few feet deep in the sea. The sharp 

 eye of the Gannet detects the fish, and the bird, first 

 raising itself to an elevation which experience or instinct 

 has taught it to be sufficient to carry it down to the 

 requisite depth, pounces on the fish, and in the effort 

 penetrates the board to which the fish is attached. Being 

 thus held fast by the beak} and unable to extricate itself, 

 it is drowned. Gannets are frequently caught in the 

 herring nets, at various depths below the surface. Diving 

 after the fish, they become entangled in the nets, and are 

 thus captured in a trap not intended for them. They 

 perform good service to fishermen, by indicating at a great 

 distance the exact position of the shoals of fish." 



Gannets breed in great numbers on several parts of our 

 rocky coast ; from the extreme north to Lundy Island in 

 the Bristol Channel. The two most important stations 



