The Bird Book 



covered with rusty brown or black markings. It 

 is hardly possible to confuse these birds with 

 Guillemots after a slight acquaintance with them, 

 for, though similarly marked, their plumage is black, 

 not brown above, and the bill, high, flat and much 

 decurved at the end, is further distinguished 

 by a white line which traverses both mandibles. 

 Another white stripe runs from the base of the 

 beak to the eye. 



Long before the young birds are able to take 

 care of themselves they are conveyed to the water, 

 where the rest of the year is to be spent, and it 

 goes ill with them if heavy storms arise within the 

 first few weeks of their career. 



It is easy enough to spend hours watching these 

 interesting birds at such close quarters, but we 

 must turn our attention to a broad shelf of rock, 

 where a few pairs of Gannets have their nests 

 huge accumulations of seaweed. They still cling 

 fondly to the spot where their ancestors nested, 

 though sadly diminished in numbers since the 

 granite was quarried for the Thames embankment, 

 still more since the days of Edward II., for, when 

 that King gave the island to Despenser, the Gan- 

 net Stone figures as a " certain rock, with two 

 places near it, where Gannets settle and breed 

 worth in ordinary years sixty-six shillings and 

 eight pence." 



As we approach they fly out, showing a vast 

 stretch of v/hite wings strikingly tipped with 

 116 



