" Gannets breed in colonies of a few hundreds to tens of thousands strong." 



THE GANNET, OR SOLAN GOOSE 



EPEATED visits to the Bass 

 Rock, Ailsa Craig, and 

 the Outer Hebrides, in 

 addition to summer holi- 

 days spent at St. Kilda, 

 in the Shetlands, and upon 

 the North Sea, have given 

 me many opportunities of 

 studying the life and habits of this 

 interesting species. 



Gannets breed in colonies of a few 

 hundreds to tens of thousands strong. 

 One well-known authority has expressed 

 the opinion that not fewer than two 

 hundred thousand breed on the cliffs 

 of St. Kilda and the adjoining islands 

 and rock-stacks alone. Whilst these 

 figures appear to me an exaggeration, 

 I must frankly confess that after watch- 

 ing for days on end the vast numbers 

 of birds wheeling in the air, and sitting 

 in majestic solemnity on the towering 



cliffs, I left the place incapable of 

 hazarding any estimate of their num- 

 bers. 



During February, March, and April 

 Solan Geese congregate at their favourite 

 breeding haunts, and occupy every ledge 

 and corner of the lofty cliffs capable of 

 accommodating a nest. The structure 

 consists of dead seaweed, lined with bits 

 of turf, moss, and grass, and individual 

 birds may frequently be seen adding 

 materials to it even when it is occupied 

 by a down-clad young one. Like rooks, 

 Gannets are frequently guilty of stealing 

 materials from each other's nests, and 

 when a thief is caught in the act a fierce 

 battle generally ensues. These bitterly 

 waged fights sometimes end in blood- 

 shed, and explain why Solan Geese are 

 occasionally seen with the sight of one 

 eye destroyed. 



In May or June one egg is laid, of a 



.13' 



