234 COMMON GANNET. 
composed in a great measure of sea-weeds, shrink up in dry weather, 
and decompose in wet ; and when seated close together they have fre-— 
quent quarrels. I saw one seize its neighbour by the back of the 
neck, until the latter, I may say, roared out; but in general, they are 
satisfied with menacing each other with open bills and loud clamour. 
In leaving the nest, they generally scatter about a quantity of the ma-- 
terials of which it is composed, for they are extremely awkward in their 
motions when on the ground, hobbling and limping along, aiding 
themselves with their wings, and draggling the abdominal feathers 
and tail. 
“In launching from the cliffs, they frequently utter a single plaintive 
cry, perform a curve, having its concavity upwards, then shake the tail, 
frequently the whole plimage, draw the feet backwards, placing them 
close under the tail, on each side, and cover them with the feathers. 
In some the feet were entirely covered, while in others parts of the 
toes were apparent. In fiying, the body, tail, neck, and bill, are nearly 
in a straight line, the wings extended and never brought close to the 
body, and they move by regular flappings, alternating with short sail- 
ings. In alighting, they generally ascend in a long curve, keeping 
their feet spread, and come down rather heavily, often finding it diff- 
cult to balance themselves, and sometimes, when the place is very steep, 
or when another bird attacks them, flying off, to try it a second time. 
On the rocks they stand with the body nearly horizontal, or they lie 
on their belly, although some may be seen in‘an oblique or even nearly 
erect posture. They usually repose with the head resting between the 
shoulders, the bill concealed among the feathers of the back. I caught 
one in that state, by walking up to it, and seizing it by the tail and 
the tips of the wings, which cross each other over it. 
‘“‘ Owing to their interference with each other, a constant noise is 
kept up amongst them. Their cry is hoarse and harsh, and may be ex- 
pressed by the syllables carra, carra, carra, or hirra, kirra, kirra, or 
crac, crac, crac. ‘The ery varies considerably in different individuals, 
some having a sharper voice than others, and when unusually irritated 
they repeat it with great rapidity. An ornithological writer thinks 
they ery grog, grog ; but neither Mr Avpuson nor myself interpreted 
their notes so, otherwise we could have satisfied a few at least, as we 
had a bottle of whisky and a keg of water. 
“The young are at first covered with very beautiful close snow-white 
eS a Er ee 
