758 THE GANNET, OE SOLAN GOOSE. 



Wherever the limbs of a tree project over and dip into the water, there the Darters are 

 sure to be found, these situations being convenient resting-places for the purpose 

 sunning and preening themselves, and probably giving them a better opportunity of 

 observing their finny prey. They crawl from the water upon the limbs and fix themselves 

 in an upright position, which they maintain in the utmost silence. If there be foliage or 

 long moss, they secrete themselves in it in such a manner that they cannot be perceived 

 unless one be close to them. When approached, they drop into the water with such 

 surprising skill that one is astonished how so large a body can plunge with so little 

 noise, the agitation of the body being apparently not greater than that occasioned by the 

 gliding of an eel." 



While in the tree this bird has a habit of rapidly darting its snaky head and neck 

 through the foliage, so that at a first glance it would be taken for a serpent, and even 

 when swimming its body is submerged, and the only part visible is the long neck writhing 

 about just like an aquatic serpent. 



The nest of the Darter is a rather large edifice of sticks, placed upon the trees that 

 grow in the marshy lands which the Darters frequent. The eggs are blue. In the adult 

 bird the general colour is very deep green. A strip of brownish white runs from the 

 eye partially down the sides of the neck, and the scapulary feathers are long and slender, 

 with a stripe of white along their centre. The wings are black variegated with silvery 

 white. The total length of this bird is not quite three feet. 



Anothek species, Levaillant's Dartee or Sxake-bird [Plotus Levaillantii), is a 

 native of Africa, and its habits and general form resemble the preceding species. In the 

 water it is most agile, and can often dive at the flash of a gun and place itself in safety 

 by going under water for a considerable distance in a direction where it was not 

 expected, and then rising into the air and flying off. 



The Gannet, Solan Goose, or Spectacled Goose, is a well-known resident on our 

 coasts, its chief home being the Bass Rock in the Frith of Forth, on which it congregates 

 in vast numbers. 



The Gannet is a large bird, nearly three feet long ; and being powerful on the wing, 

 and possessed of a large appetite, it makes great havoc among the fish which it devours. 

 Herrings, pilchards, sprats, and similar fish are the favourite food of the Gannet, and 

 as soon as the shoals of herrings approach the coast, the Gannets assemble in flocks and 

 indicate to the fisliermen the presence and position of the fish. The bird is able to catch 

 its prey at some distance below the surface, and accomplishes its object by shooting 

 directly downwards with partially closed wings and seizing the fish before it has had time 

 to take alarm. While engaged in feeding upon the shoals of herrings that are inclosed in 

 the nets, the Gannets are frequently taken by becoming entangled in the meshes. They are 

 also caught by fastening a herring on a board and setting it afloat. The Gannet sees the 

 fish, but takes no notice of the board, and so comes down with a pounce, drives its beak 

 through the herring, and into the board, and is of course killed by the concussion. The 

 Gannet is enabled to guard itself against too deep a submergence and to break the shock of 

 its body falling against the water by means of certain subcutaneous air-cells, which according 

 to Montagu are capable of containing three full breaths from human lungs, and are equal 

 to a capacity of one hundred and eighty entire inches. 



The birds that breed on the Bass Rock are very tame in consequence of their immunity 

 from persecution, and will even suffer themselves to be handled when on their nests 

 without displaying any uneasiness, except uttering a little dissatisfied croaking. The 

 nest of the Gannet is a heap of grass, seaweed, and similar substances, on which is laid 

 one very pale blue egg, which, however, does not long retain its purity. The young 

 are clothed Avith white puffy down, which after a while changes to nearly black feathers, 

 the white plumage not being assumed until the bird has reached full age. The head and 

 neck of the full-grown bird are buff, the primaries black, and the rest of the plumage 

 white. The yearling bird is almost wholly black covered with streaks and triangular 

 marks of greyish white. The total length of this bird is about thirty-four inches. 



