THE GANNET. 255 



flpng lower than when observed here before (June 11, 1827), 

 none from the comparatively less height dashed down to seize its 

 prey as they then did from twice the elevation : the water tliis mor- 

 ning was only tolerably smooth ; on that occasion it was calm as a 

 mirror. June 24, 1 833. — Same locality and time of morning ; gan- 

 nets flew past us in one direction, until seven collected together ; 

 they then kept flying in company, though not in a regular flock, 

 about the same place for some time, not one descending for prey ; 

 a few others were seen on wing and on the water, but not fishing. 

 When passing the Copeland Islands, on the 17th of May, 1849, 

 at seven o'clock in the evening, several gannets appeared, which I 

 should expect took a flight before roosting-time to the Craig of 

 Ailsa. Proceeding to and from the Mew Island (from Grooms- 

 port), and when there, on the 16th of July, 1850, we saw about 

 twenty gannets on wing, singly, or not more than two in com- 

 j)auy. Not one of those observed in the course of several hours 

 was fishing; the sea was rather rough. All seen on this and 

 former occasions here were adult, excepting one to-day, which was 

 in the next stage to maturity, being partially white ; it was in 

 company with an adult bird. When landing on the island we 

 saw an old gannet in the possession of two boys, who had caught 

 it on the water. It was still living, not having suffered from the 

 capture, but was very much emaciated in the body, though no 

 external wounds were visible. As usual with birds in poor con- 

 dition, it was very much infested with parasitic insects. Adult 

 birds, as well as others, apparently in perfect health, and taken on 

 the water by fishermen — who imagined them to be overgorged — 

 have frequently come under my notice. 



Within the entrance of Belfast Bay they are commonly to be 

 seen throughout summer and autumn, but very rarely do the 

 adult birds come far up the estuary. Within three miles of the 

 town, two appeared on the 14th of May, 1832, one of which was 

 struck down with an oax and secured. On the 27th of April, 

 1850, a fine old male was taken off Holywood, by becoming 

 so entangled in a fisherman's float-lines that it was drawn into 

 his boat, and quite uninjured. Young birds have not unfre- 



