228 COMMON GANNET. 
wounded a Gannet, which, on falling to the water, swam so fast before 
the boat, that we rowed about a quarter of a mile before we reached it, 
when it suddenly turned towards us, opened its bill, as if intent on de- 
fending itself, but was killed with the stroke of an oar by one of the 
sailors. When shot at without even being touched, these birds-often 
disgorge their food in the manner of Vultures; and this they always 
do when wounded, if their stomach and gullet happen to be full. 
Sometimes, after being wounded in the wings, they will float and allow 
you to take them, without making any attempt to escape. Nay, my 
young friend, GrorcE C. Suattuck, M.D., of Boston, while with me 
at Labrador, caught one which he found walking amongst a great num- 
ber of Guillemots, on a low and rocky island. 
When they are on their favourite breeding rocks, and about to fly, 
they elevate their head, throw it backward, open the bill, and emit a 
loud prolonged ery, before launching themselves into the air, in doing 
which they waddle a few paces with their wings partially extended. 
After starting, their first motion is greatly inclined downwards, but they 
presently recover, and seem to support themselves with ease. When 
they are twenty or thirty yards off, you observe them shaking the tail 
sideways, and then hiding their feet among the under coverts of the tail. 
At other times they suddenly open their feet, moving them as if for 
the purpose of grasping some object below, in the same manner as some 
hawks, but only for a few moments, when again the tail is shaken, and 
the feet hidden as before. They beat their wings and sail alternately, 
even when flying around their breeding places. 
On the ground the movements of the Gannet are exceedingly awk- 
ward, and it marches with hampered steps, assisting itself with the 
wings, or keeping them partially open, to prevent its falling. Their 
walk, indeed, is merely a hobble. When the sun shines, they are fond 
of opening their wings and beating them in the manner of Cormorants, 
shaking the head meanwhile rather violently, and emitting their usual 
uncouth guttural notes of cara, karew, karow. You may well imagine 
the effect of a concert performed by all the Gannets congregated for 
the purpose of breeding on such a rock as that in the Gulf of St Law- 
rence, where, amidst the uproar produced by the repetition of these 
notes, you now and then distinguish the loud and continued wolfish 
howling-like sounds of those about to fly off. 
The newly-finished nest of this bird is fully two feet high, and quite- 
