182 BRITISH SEA BIRDS. 



ming, but they are merely resting, not fishing. The 

 captured fish is invariably swallowed at once. The 

 sitting birds are kept well supplied with fish by their 

 mates. These fish, however, are not conveyed to 

 them in the beak, but in the gullet, from which they 

 are disgorged, and left by the nest side to be eaten 

 as required. Very often a Gannet will disgorge 

 several large fish before leaving its nest, whilst many 

 more fish are brought to the rocks than are actually 

 eaten. The Gannet is a voracious eater, and often 

 so gorges itself with food as to be incapable of flight. 

 The power of wing of this beautiful bird is wonder- 

 ful in the extreme. I have seen the Gannet re- 

 peatedly keep the air for hours together, apparently 

 without effort, wheeling in graceful curves, and 

 ascending to vast heights, just as Vultures are wont 

 to do. 



Although the Gannet is a resident in British 

 waters, it seldom comes near land except to breed. 

 During the nesting season it is very gregarious, 

 and some of its stations contain many thousands 

 of pairs. Early in the spring Gannets begin to 

 assemble at the breeding places, and towards the 

 end of April nest building commences. The nests 

 are made either on the ledges of the cliffs, amongst 

 the broken rock fragments at the summit, or on 

 the flat table-like tops of pinnacles and stacks. 

 Where the birds are numerous and the accom- 

 modation limited, great numbers of nests are 

 crowded together ; and as may readily be inferred, 



