The Gannet. 



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THE GANNET, OK SOLAN GOOSE. 

 (Sula bassana.) 



THESE birds are insatiably voracious, but are somewhat 

 particular in their choice of prey ; disdaining, unless in 

 great want, any food worse than herrings or mackerel. 

 No fewer than one hundred thousand Gannets are sup- 

 posed to frequent the rocks of St. Kilda ; and of these, 

 including the young ones, at least twenty thousand are 

 annually killed for food by the inhabitants. The Gannet 

 is somewhat more than three feet in length, and weighs 

 about seven pounds. The bill is six inches long, straight 

 almost to the point, where it is a little bent; its edges 

 are jagged, to enable it the better to secure its prey ; 

 and about an inch from the base of the upper mandible 

 there is a sharp process pointing forward. The general 



