THE SHORES OF BRITAIN. ,H3 



so necessary for its flight, but equally detrimental to 

 its swoop. 



Iu some interesting observations, by Colonel Mon- 

 tagu, on the habits of this bird in captivity, the same 

 fact is noticed. When the bird was placed on the 

 water of a pond, nothing could induce him to at- 

 tempt to dive, and from the manner of his putting 

 the bill, and sometimes the whole head, under water, 

 as if searching for fish, it appears that the prey 

 is frequently so taken. It is probable more fish are 

 caught in their congregated migrations, when the 

 shoals are near the surface, than by their descent 

 upon wing; for the herrings, pilchards, mackerel, 

 and other gregarious fishes, cannot at that time avoid 

 their enemy, who is floating iu the midst of profu- 

 sion. In the act of respiration there appears to be 

 always some air propelled between the skin and the 

 body of this bird, as a visible expansion and contrac- 

 tion is observed about the breast ; and this singular 

 conformation makes the bird so buoyant that it floats 

 high on the water, and does not sink beneath the 

 surface, as observed in the cormorant and shag. The 

 legs are not placed so far behind as in such of the 

 feathered tribe as procure their subsistence by im- 

 mersion; the Gannet, consequently, has the centre 

 of gravity placed more forward; and when standing, 

 the body is nearly horizontal, like a goose, and not 

 erect like a cormorant. 



The Gannet collects a slight heap of withered 



grass and dry sea- weeds, on which it lays and hatches 



its eggs. They perform this duty by turns, one 



foraging while the other sits. The roamer, after 

 s *2 



