52 NESTS AND EGGS OE 



as Others of its family. Its nesting is essentially the same as that of 

 the Blue-faced Gannet. Two eggs are laid, white in color, elongate- 

 ovate in shape, with a calcareous deposit on the surface ; size, 2.57x1.80. 



117. Sula bassana (Linn.) [650.] 



Gannet. 



Hab. North Atlantic; south in winter to the Gulf of Mexico and Africa, Breeds from Nova Scotia 

 and British islands northward. 



The White Gannet, or Solan Goose, is widely distributed through- 

 out the Northern Atlantic Ocean, and is more or less a resident wher- 

 ever found. 



Some of the most noted breeding places of this bird are on the 

 islands about the coasts of Scotland, notably the great Bass Rock at 

 the mouth of the Firth of Forth. Here it breeds in tens of thousands, 

 with the Gulls, Cormorants and Puffins that inhabit the rock. Another 

 of its breeding stations is St. Kilda. The precipitous cliffs at this 

 place rise to the height of 1,400 feet. Here the Gannet breeds in 

 countless numbers. This bird also nests in the Faroe Islands and in 

 islands on the coast of Iceland. Small colonies are to be found breed- 

 ing in Labrador. One of its well known breeding places on the coast 

 of North America is " Bird Rocks," in the Gulf of St. L,awrence. The 

 nests are built on the summits and ledges of the rocks. They are 

 made of sea-weed, mud and small stones, raised to about ten inches in 

 height and eighteen in diameter. In some cases the nest is made of 

 straw and other available material. A single egg is laid. It resembles 

 very much the average Brown Pelican egg, with, however, these differ- 

 ences: Its general shape is more elongated, and the calcareous de- 

 posit on it is thicker; the color is chalky -white ; sizes range from 

 3.25 to 3.50 long by 1.65 to 2.05 broad. 



118. Anhlnga anhinga (Linn.) [649.] 



Anhinga. 



Hab. Tropical and subtropical America, north to the Carolinas and Southern Illinois. 



Known as the Water Turkey, Darter and Snake Bird. It often 

 swims with the body submerged, its head and long neck in sight like 

 some kind of water serpent — hence the latter name. This singular- 

 looking bird is very common in summer in the South Atlantic and 

 Gulf States to North Carolina, frequenting the almost impenetrable 

 swamps. It is a constant resident of Florida. The bird dives with 

 amazing ease, and when alarmed will drop from its perch with scarcely 

 a ripple on the surface of the water, and will swim beneath the surface 

 to a safe distance before reappearing. It has also the curious habit of 

 quietly sinking like a grebe. 



The nests of the Anhinga are variously placed — sometimes in low 



