17 



a battle between a Gannet and two full-grown male Swans, 

 the latter both attacking at the same time, and following 

 up the contest most vigorously with the former, who defended 

 himself most resolutely for a very long time, and ultimately 

 defeated the Swans, beating them both off, and laying them 

 prostrate, totally disabled, helpless, and seemingly seriously 

 injured. The G-annet, much exhausted by the protracted 

 struggle, was easily caught alive, and very little the worse 

 for fighting.' 



The following singular circumstance has been communicated 

 to me by Miss Kickaby, of Burlington Quay: 



'On the 22nd. day of April, 1838, after exceeding stormy 

 snowy weather for two or three days before, an old full- 

 feathered Gannet was found dead on Swainby Moor, in 

 Cleveland, about twenty miles from the sea-coast. This bird 

 had evidently been driven that same night inland by the 

 force of a tremendous wind from the north-east, and had flown 

 in a state of blindness as long as strength lasted, it being 

 found scarcely stiff, and with about two inches and a quarter 

 of the sharp beak, or snout, of the Garfish forced into one 

 eye, leaving only about half an inch visible, when it was 

 brought by the person who picked it up to the late Rev. 

 George Marwood, of Busby Hall, who on making this 

 discovery of the mode of its death, pulled the instrument 

 of it out, and sent it the next day to Mr. Chapman, of 

 York, to be preserved. It was returned in the course of a 

 few weeks after to Mr. Marwood, in a case, and the eye, 

 with the portion of the beak of the Garfish placed through 

 it as when found, was preserved in spirits, and sent with it 

 to Busby Hall, where the whole were when this account 

 was written, March 4th., 1840, in the possession of the late 

 Rev. George Marwood.' 



It is described as a beautiful sight to watch the Gannet 

 hawking for, and stooping on its prey. It flies with great 

 power, agility, and freedom, the wings being quickly beaten, 

 or at times skims along in a steady sailing manner: thus 

 coursing on at a greater or less height, or catching sight; 

 of a quarry, it is down upon it like a thunderbolt, straight, 

 or in a slightly slanting direction, the wings partly closed, 

 (lashing the water into foam as it plunges, and soon re- 

 ascends, rarely without its prey. The time that elapses 

 between the plunge and the emersion, is about fifteen 

 seconds. Sometimes after the bird has arrested its flight 

 YOL. vni. C 



