GAKNET, OR SOLAND GOOSE. 18] 



rank and nauseous smell, much more fetid than that of 

 putrid flesh. Its form is disagreeable, its voice is hoarse 

 and croaking, and all its qualities are disgusting. It is 

 not, therefore, to be wondered at, that Milton should 

 make Satan personate this bird, when he goes to survey 

 with anxiety the beauties of Paradise, and to sit devising 

 destruction on the tree of life. 



The indefatigable industry and great dexterity of the 

 cormorant in catching fish have induced some nations to 

 keep it in a tame state. In China it is still used for this 

 purpose ; but while employed, a ring is constantly fastened 

 round its throat, to prevent it from devouring for its own 

 use what is intended for its master's. 



THE GANNET, OR SOLAND GOOSE. 



This bird is of the size of the tame goose, but its wings 

 are much longer. The bill is six inches long, inclining 

 do\vn at the point ; and the sides are irregularly jagged, 

 in order to give a firmer hold of its prey. From the 

 corner of the mouth proceeds a narrow slip of black bare 

 skin, extending to the hind part of the head ; and be-, 

 neath this is a dilatable pouch like that of the pelican, 

 capable of containing five or six entire herrings, which, 

 in the breeding-season, it carries at once to its mate or 

 its young. The colour is chiefly white. 



These birds are extremely numerous in some of the 

 Hebrides, the Skelig islands in Ireland, and the Ferro 

 between Scotland and Norway. But it is in the Bass 

 island, in the Frith of Forth, that they are seen in the 

 greatest numbers. 



They lay only one egg at a time ; and never more than 

 three in a season, should they be robbed of their first and 

 second. The young are reckoned very delicate food, 

 and therefore are sold at a high rate. 



The soland goose is a bird of passage. In winter, it 

 seeks the more southern coasts of Cornwall ; in doing 

 which, it is determined by the migrations of the shoals of 

 herrings, which come pouring down the British Channel? 



