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cry of the young bird is a shrill squeak, while that of the old bird is hoarse and resembles the 

 syllables ' carra carra ' or ' kurra kurra ' rapidly repeated. From one to two thousand of the 

 young birds are killed annually for sale, and, after being plucked, obtain a price of from sixpence 

 to a shilling each. Formerly, when they were held in greater value, they used to fetch con- 

 siderably more : thus we find that in Ray's time they cost Is. 8d. apiece. At one time they 

 figured at the tables of the Scottish monarchs, and more recently were much esteemed by the 

 citizens of Edinburgh and other towns, being roasted and eaten as a relish for dinner. Now, I 

 believe, their consumption is chiefly limited to the lower classes ; and I have been informed on 

 good authority that, being parboiled and having their legs cut off, they are sold in considerable 

 numbers to the Irish peasants who come over to Scotland at harvest-time." 



It has puzzled more than one observer to understand how the Gannet escapes injury when 

 plunging, as it often does, violently into the water from a considerable height to strike fish ; and 

 a most interesting discovery, which throws much light on this question, has lately been made by 

 my friend Mr. John Flower. This gentleman has kindly sent me the following notes, viz. : — 



" I send you below the particulars which you wish to have as to the coracoids of the 

 Gannet (Sula bassana). It was in December 1876 that my attention was first called to the 

 peculiar nature of their articulation to the sternum ; but it was not till August 1878, when I had 

 an opportunity of mentioning the matter to Professor Rolleston, at Oxford, that it occurred to 

 me that I had discovered something which was new, and that I became aware that the true 

 object and significance of the very oblique articulation of the Gannet's coracoids have never yet 

 been pointed out. 



" To any one who has carefully examined the body of a Gannet it must be clear that if it 

 were not for the wings, there would be very little of the bird which could offer any great amount 

 of resistance to the water when it takes one of those very remarkable plunges which are so 

 characteristic of the genus Sula. The beak, head, neck, and body seem to be specially shaped 

 to suit the plunging habits of the species, and are most admirably adapted for passing easily 

 through water. But the wings create a difficulty. The bird is a heavy one, weighing about 

 seven pounds; and the wings, being necessarily large in proportion, have a span of over six feet. 

 When at rest they project somewhat from the sides of the bird; and during the plunge they are 

 forced, by the pressure of the water, tightly against the body and backwards towards the tail. 

 Nearly the whole of the strain which is thus caused, and which must often be very considerable, 

 especially when the Gannet is fishing in rough weather, is necessarily thrown upon the shoulder- 

 joint; and but for the arrangement next to be described, it would probably often be sufficient to 

 disable the bird. From the front part of the body of the sternum is developed a very large and 

 powerful wedge of bone ; and on the sides of this wedge the coracoids are articulated, not, as in 

 nearly all other birds, at right angles, or nearly at right angles, with the axis of the sternum, 

 but in a direction nearly parallel with it. When therefore the strain begins to be felt at the 

 shoulder-joint, the coracoids slide slowly backwards, down the sides of the wedge of bone, and 

 ease the strain. This allows the wings to perform a similar movement along the sides of the 

 body, which forms a cone, round the sides of which the wings are wrapped. By this exceedingly 

 simple and yet beautiful mechanical contrivance, of a wedge within a cone, the pressure of the 

 water is gradually eased off, and reduced to nothing, and this without any undue or dangerous 



