BIRD-LIFE AT SEA. 257 



almost motionless wings, and then see them drop, 

 or rather hurl themselves down into the water 

 with such force that the impact may be distinctly 

 heard a mile away. For a few seconds there is 

 nothing visible but a cloud of spray and a patch 

 of white water churned to foam by the heavy body 

 falling from such a height ; then the Gannet rises 

 again and flaps slowly along the surface, rising 

 higher and higher as he goes, until, in a series of 

 circles, he gains sufficient altitude to essay another 

 plunge. The custom of tying a fish to a floating 

 piece of wood, so that the bird may strike it and 

 either dislocate its neck or imbed its spear-like 

 bill in the timber, prevails here as on many other 

 parts of the coast where Gannets are seen. These 

 birds may sometimes be seen soaring, Vulture- 

 like, at vast altitudes above the water. They 

 never, however, fly over the land, and after their 

 appetite is appeased generally make off to the 

 mouth of the bay and the open Channel. Imma- 

 ture birds are not often seen in here, but we 

 have examined several examples in the speckled 

 black and white plumage. Although the Gannet 

 breeds at Lundy Island, off the north coast of 

 Devon, we do not believe that the birds seen off 



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