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the multitudes I saw when I visited it in 1862, I do not think there has been any material 

 decrease since that time. The Gannets make their appearance about the middle of February 

 or beginning of March, and, as a general rule, take their departure in October. A few, however, 

 seem to remain throughout the winter ; but they are not unfrequently seen during that season 

 by the fishermen of the Firth, and towards the close of last December I obtained a full-grown 

 individual which had been caught in a herring-net. The nests were described by the older 

 observers as built of sticks ; but either they were mistaken or the Geese have changed their 

 customs ; for nowadays, as I can testify by personal observations, they are constructed entirely 

 of grass and seaweeds, particularly the Fucus digitatus and other of the common Fucoids. They 

 are built in the form of a flattened cone, the base of which ' is about 20 inches in diameter, with 

 a shallow terminal cavity;' and their artificers exhibit great industry in collecting materials for 

 them, tearing up grass and turf with their powerful bills, and frequently engaging in conflicts 

 with one another during the process. 



" They lay but one egg ; but if it is removed another is deposited in its place. It is of an 

 elliptical form, with a dull rough surface, and in its original state is white, but is almost always 

 more or less patched with yellowish-brown dirt, although I have never seen it stained with 

 blood, as is frequently the case with the egg of the American bird, according to Dr. Bryant. 

 I have been informed on good authority that the albumen does not become white when it is 

 boiled, but remains clear and colourless ; but I cannot speak from personal knowledge of the 

 fact. According to Macgillivray ' it is subjected to what might appear rough usage ; for the bird 

 in alighting, flying, or when disturbed by human visitors tosses it about and stands upon it.' 

 This habit has probably given rise to the assertion that the egg is hatched by the foot. 



" The Gannet is but little adapted for progression on land, its gait being an awkward 

 waddle. Judging from the descriptions of Selby and Macgillivray, these birds appear to have 

 been in a very amiable state at the time of their visits to the Bass ; for the former states that 

 during incubation, 'in consequence of being unmolested, they become very tame, and, where 

 the nests are easily accessible upon the flat surface of the rock on the south-west side of the 

 island, will allow themselves to be stroked by the hand without resistance, or any show even of 

 impatience, except the low guttural cry of grog, grog ;' while the latter author says that, when 

 sitting, ' the Gannets usually allow a person to approach within three feet, sometimes much 

 nearer, so that one may touch them. When one approaches them they merely open their bill, 

 and utter the usual cry, or they rise on their feet and express some degree of resentment, but 

 little apprehension of danger.' When I visited the island three years ago my experience was 

 widely different ; for the old birds manifested every symptom of displeasure, and even a young 

 bird, but a few weeks hatched, squeaked angrily and made impotent demonstrations of self- 

 defence with its soft little bill. Prof. Innes also, in a note to St. John's ' Natural History and 

 Sport in Moray,' mentions (p. 204) an instance in which a young man suffered for his temerity 

 in venturing to meddle with a gosling in the downy stage ; for the infuriated parent made a 

 swoop at his face, and, narrowly missing his eye, caught him by the nose. I can likewise bear 

 witness that the bird is capable of inflicting a most severe bite with the razor-like edge of its 

 mandibles ; for on one occasion, when a live specimen was brought to me, it made a cut between 

 two and three inches long on the hand of its captor. 



