18 GANKET. 



for a stoop, on perceiving either that it has been mistaken 

 in the supposed object, or that the intended prey has already 

 disappeared, it sails away on a fresh voyage of discovery. 



Selby says that G-annets are long-lived birds, some that 

 had been recognised from particular marks, having been 

 observed to return to the same stations for upwards of forty- 

 eight years. 



When engaged with their nests they become very tame, 

 and will allow themselves to be stroked with the hand, 

 without any sign of displeasure or alarm, beyond the utter- 

 ance of a low guttural note. It is said that they are unable 

 to rise from the water, except against the wind, and 

 consequently that they may be taken in that situation by 

 being run down upon in a boat. 



They feed on fish herrings, pilchards, anchovies, sardines, 

 and sprats especially, such being found near the surface. 

 They are swallowed head foremost. 



The note is a dull 'grog, grog.' 



Great numbers of these birds build together in the same 

 situations, on the sides of precipitous cliffs and rocks, the 

 nests being placed almost close to each other. These are 

 made of sea-weed and grass. 



The egg, for there is only one, is white, or with a pale 

 tinge of blue. 



Both parents sit; the period of incubation being about six 

 weeks. 



Male; weight, between six and seven pounds; length, about 

 two feet and three quarters or over, up to three feet; bill, 

 pale greyish horn-colour, the tip fading into white, and a 

 little inclined down, the edges somewhat serrated. The upper 

 mandible has a ridge running along it nearly from the base 

 to the tip, and no nostril is apparent; the part about the 

 base of the upper mandible black, which colour extends back 

 over the eye in an arched form, somewhat like a spectacle. 

 Iris, pale yellow, giving the bird a staring appearance; 

 eyelids, blue; forehead, black. Head, crown, and neck above, 

 buff-colour; nape, white; chin, dusky black on the centre 

 and downwards for some distance under the gular pouch; 

 throat, otherwise white; breast, white; back, white. 



The wings, which are long, have the first quill feather 

 the longest. They expand to the width of six feet; greater 

 and lesser wing coverts, white; primaries, black; greater and 

 lesser under wing coverts, white. The tail, white, is of 



