WATER FOWL. 377 



make an estimate of their plenty for the season. 

 They preserve both the eggs and fowls in small 

 pyramidal stone buildings, covering them with 

 turf-ashes, to prevent the evaporation of their 

 moisture. 



The gannet is a bird of passage. In winter, it 

 seeks the more southern coasts of Cornwall, hover- 

 ing over the shoals of herrings and pilchards that 

 then come down from the northern seas : Its first 

 appearance in the northern islands is in the be- 

 ginning of spring ; and it cpntinues to breed till 

 the end of summer. But, in general, its motions 

 are determined by the migrations of the immense 

 shoals of herrings that come pouring down at that 

 season through the British Channel, and supply 

 all Europe, as well as this bird, with their spoil. 

 The gannet assiduously attends the shoal in their 

 passage, keeps with them in their whole circuit 

 round our island, and shares with our fishermen 

 this exhaustless banquet. As it is strong of wing, 

 it never comes near the land, but is constant to 

 its prey. Wherever the gannet is seen, it is sure 

 to announce to the fishermen the arrival of the 

 finny tribe : they then prepare their nets, and 

 take the herrings by millions at a draught ; while 

 the gannet, who came to give the first informa- 

 tion, comes, though an unbidden guest, and often 

 snatches its prey from the fisherman even in his 

 boat. While the fishing season continues, the 

 gannets are busily employed ; but when the pil- 

 chards disappear from our coasts, the gannet takes 

 its leave, to keep them company. 



