94 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



Seebohm says, " The scene is a most imposing one. 

 Thousands of Gannets are sailing to and fro before the 

 mighty cliffs ; every part of the rocks that can support a 

 nest is crowded with birds ; birds are constantly coming to 

 and leaving the cliffs ; the harsh notes of quarrelling 

 Gannets sound in all directions; whilst numbers are to be 

 seen sitting quietly on the greensward on the top of the 

 rocks, or fast asleep, with their bills and heads almost 

 hidden amongst their dorsal plumage/' 



After the autumn, these birds move towards the 

 southern parts of the coast, and are then seen, especially off 

 the Cornish shores, in great abundance. 



The Gannet feeds entirely upon fish, more especially 

 upon those that swim near the surface of the water, such as 

 sprats, pilchards, and herrings. The method in which it 

 secures its food is quite different from that pursued by any 

 other of our fish-eating birds. Mr. Couch (in his Fauna) 

 observes that the Gannet, "' traversing the air in all direc- 

 tions, as soon as it discovers the fish it rises to such a 

 height as experience shows best calculated to carry it by a 

 downward motion to the required depth ; and then partially 

 closing its wings, it falls perpendicularly on its prey, and 

 rarely without success ; the time between the plunge and 

 immersion being about fifteen seconds/' 



The Gannet is possessed of very considerable powers of 

 flight, and ranges over a large extent of sea in search of 

 food, from one hundred to two hundred miles in a day 

 being frequently traversed. 



During the fishing season these birds boldly approach 

 the fishermen, and are frequently caught by becoming en- 

 tangled in the nets. 



The nest of the Gannet is merely a large mass or 



