160 



THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 



seeing them in such numbers as here just now. When over a 

 good shoal of fish they literally tumble by dozens and scores 

 into the water, reminding the watcher of a shower of huge snow- 

 flakes melting into the waves; it is marvellous how they avoid 

 sinking each other when descending in such numbers, and with 

 such velocity into a small patch of water, each apparently 

 oblivious of everything except that one little object it has sighted 

 beneath the surface. The dive into deep water is usually made 

 from a height of 18 to 30 feet, and is a literal "header," the 



r """ ' 



"Victorian Naturalist.' 



G-annetry on Cat Island, Bass Strait. 



H. P. a. Ashworth. 



bird usually entering the waves nearly vertically, and with a 

 splash; a perceptible interval elapses before it reappears some 

 little distance awaj^, giving its yellowish beak a swish backwards 

 and forwards after swallowing its prey. It usually sits a few 

 seconds upon the water before going aloft again, thus differing 

 from the Tern, which takes to its wings the moment it reaches 

 the surface. "When diving in shallow water close to the rocks, 

 the Gannet begins the descent from a height of 4 or 5 feet only. 

 The wings are not closed, as is usually supposed, at the 

 beginning of the descent, but remain expanded until the bird 

 is close to the surface, and apparently assist in guiding it to 



