2046 THE CORMORANT GROUP 



haunting bird, associating on certain cliffs, such as the well-known Bass Rock, in 

 countless swarms. Its range extends over the coasts of the Northern Hemisphere 

 as far north as latitude 70, and as far south as the tropics; although the birds only 

 frequent the southern portion of their habitat during the winter, and are but seldom 

 seen at any time in the Mediterranean. In Southern Africa, the place of this spe- 

 cies is taken by the Cape gannet (S. capensis), distinguished by its nearly black 



COMMON GANNET. 

 (One-tenth natural size.) 



tail; and the greater number of the representatives of the genus are inhabitants of 

 the Southern Hemisphere. Although still breeding on the English coast at Lundy 

 island, it is on the Scotch and Irish shores that the gannet is found in great num- 

 bers; the Bass Rock being, however, the only station on the eastern coast where 

 these birds resort for breeding. Gannets are also abundant in the Orkneys and 



