3IO WILD-FOWL AND SEA-FOWL OF GREAT BRITAIN 



This, as a rule, is not so frequently met with as the 

 common bird, except on certain parts of the coast. 



THE COMMON GANNET. 

 {Sula bassana.) 



Male. — The bill is pale blue grey ; the lines on 

 the upper mandible blue black. The bare spaces 

 about the eyes and throat are the same colour ; the 

 iris is bluish-white. The head and hind-neck are 

 pale reddish-buff; upper and lower plumage white. 

 The primaries and first secondaries are a brownish- 

 black ; legs and feet dark brown, scutellated lines 

 apple green. Length, from bill to end of tail, 

 thirty-six inches. 



The female is similar to the male. 



The young are dusky grey, of a warm tone 

 speckled with white ; they are called, locally, Purple 

 Geese. 



