GANNET OR SOLAN GOOSE. 77 



green, glossed with purple and bronze. The crest is assumed 

 just before the breeding season, after which it is lost. Bill 

 black. Legs black. Length 27 in. Female similar, but smaller. 

 Young, brownish green above, and mottled with brown below. 

 Nestling, at first nude, then covered to some extent with 

 blackish brown down. 



Language. A harsh " kroak-kraik-kroak." 



Habits. Generally like the last. 



Food. Fish. 



Nest. May. 



Site. In caves or clefts of rocks, &c. 



Materials. Sticks, seaweed, &c. 



Eggs. Three to five. Precisely similar to last, but slightly 

 smaller. 



Family SULID^. 

 GANNET OK SOLAN GOOSE (Sula bassana). 



Kesident, but coming south in winter. Very local, breeding 

 only in certain localities, e.g., Lundy Island, Tarne Islands, 

 certain stations in Scotland, especially the famous Bass Bock, 

 and in Ireland. 



Haunts. Ledges of the sea-cliffs and the sea. 



Plumage. Generally pure white, tinged with buff on the 

 head and neck. Primaries black ; wings long and pointed. 

 Nude skin round base of bill and eye dark blue. Bill large, 

 conical, and horn-colour. Legs black. Length 34 in. Female 

 similar. Young : at first naked and black, then covered with 

 white down ; later, blackish brown above, flecked with white ; 

 under parts mottled with brown and buff. Adult plumage 

 attained in five or six years. 



Language. A harsh " carra, crac-cra.'' 



Habits. Flight rapid and powerful. It swims well, but 

 cannot dive. When fishing it rises to some height and then 

 plunges down with tremendous force into the water to seize 

 some surface-swimming fish. Gregarious in the breeding- 

 season. 



Food. Fish. 



Nest. May. One brood. 



Site. On some inaccessible ledge of the sea-cliffs. 



Materials. Grass, turf-sods, and seaweed. 



Eggs. One. Dull white, chalky substance overlying pale 

 blue shell. 



