GANNET. 383 



In spring the old birds return northward along the coast 

 on their way to their nesting quarters, and come under observa- 

 tion in April and May ; a singular and unaccountable return 

 movement was noticed off. Redcar on I2th April 1887, many 

 pairs being seen flying south. In some seasons mature 

 examples are found washed in by the tide, having apparently 

 died from the effects of a disease, which at this period attacks 

 many pelagic species. In the summer of 1895 seven Gannets 

 were captured in a weak and dying condition, the taxidermist 

 who preserved them discovering the bones to be quite soft 

 and crumbly. 



This species is sometimes driven by stormy weather to 

 inland localities, and has been met with in most parts of the 

 county, on reservoirs, lakes, and the most remote fells and 

 moorlands. It would be tedious to recapitulate all these 

 instances, but one may be mentioned, on 22nd April 1838, 

 after a two days' hurricane from the north-east, when an 

 adult specimen was picked up on Swainby Moor, in Cleveland, 

 which had evidently been blown in by the gale and flown, 

 blinded, as long as strength lasted. When found it was 

 scarcely stiff, and had about 2j in. of the beak of a garfish 

 forced into one eye, leaving only J in. visible. It was taken 

 to the Rev. G. J. Marwood of Busby, who had it preserved, 

 and the eye and piece of garfish beak preserved in spirits.* 

 The present keeper at Swainby, Thomas Whitwell, captured 

 a Gannet on the same moor in 1900. 



The method of fishing adopted by the Gannet is too well 

 known to need any description here, though it may be of 

 interest to mention that, in the autumn of 1905, I was witness 

 of a departure from the bird's ordinary habit. On the 1st 

 September an immature Gannet flew past Redcar Pier head 

 and settled on the water about two hundred yards away ; it 

 then dived from the surface in the same manner as a Cormorant 

 or Red-throated Diver. With the aid of powerful binoculars 

 I saw it twice repeat this process, on one occasion bringing up 

 a fish, or food of some kind, which it swallowed ; after the 



* This is the specimen referred to in Allis's Report. 



