THE GANNET 379 



ture individuals may be seen at the breeding station, though much 

 rarer at some than at others, and are easily recognisable by the addi- 

 tion of dark brown in their plumage, which colour diminishes each 

 year, being reduced to the brown of the primaries. They sit and move 

 about among the breeding birds, who occasionally wring their heads 

 for them as a reminder to keep at a respectful distance. They may 

 often, as already noted, be seen picking up and carrying nesting 

 material, and once I saw one cosseting a downy nestling. These 

 beginnings of the nesting and parental instinct are well worth closer 

 study. I have no record of immature birds performing either the 

 sex or the quitting display. Mr. J. M. Campbell tells me, however, 

 that he has seen immature birds displaying to adults, but no pairing 

 resulted. 



