162 



THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 



colony." Gould says of the Australian Gannet that it appears 

 to be the "Booby" par excellence. "Observing about fifty fine 

 adult birds reposing on the flat top of a low rock, I directed my 

 boatmen to row cautiously that I might endeavour to get a shot 

 at them. I was soon not only within range, but too near to lase 

 my large duck gun, loaded as it was with large shot. I 

 determined therefore to shoot them on the wing as they flew 

 from their resting-place. Judge of my surprise when I found 

 that neither the near approach of the boat, nor our speaking to 



p™..-. 



From life. 



Gannets : Sula serrator. 



Dr. C. S. Ryan. 



each other startled them in the least. Taking one of the men 

 with me, I stepped on shore and approached the motley assembly, 

 which was still sitting in close array on the rock, and which 

 did at length exhibit some degree of surprise and uneasiness 

 at the intrusion, but were then so little disturbed that we 

 succeeded in capturing five fine birds with the hand before the 

 remainder had shuffled off to the ledge of the rock and taken 

 wing. Had this occurred at a breeding-place it would not have 

 excited any astonishment, but I did not expect that the birds 

 would admit of being captured while merely at rest. ' ' 



