62 EARLY ANNALS OF ORNITHOLOGY 
third “extent”? was made, which mentions Gannets among 
the products of the island. 
Stow’s Translation of the Third “ Extent” of Lundy.— 
“The Isle of Lundy, which is in the mouth of the river 
Severne, two miles in length every way, abounding with 
pasture grounds, and oats, very pleasant. It bringeth forth 
Conies very plentifully, it hath Pigeons, and other foules, 
which Alexander Necham calls Ganimedes Birdes, having 
great nests. Also it minestreth to the inhabitants fresh 
springing waters... .” 
The “‘ Ganimedes Birdes”’ were Solan Geese. It is a play 
on the word Gannet, referring to Ganymedes, son of Tros, who 
was carried off by one of Jove’s eagles. The Necham here 
alluded to was Abbot of Cirencester and a somewhat prolific 
writer. Here it may be remarked that the antiquary John 
Leland mentions Lundy Island twice in his “ Itinerary ’* 
and again once in the “ Collectanea,’ but unfortunately in 
neither case is there any allusion to its birds. 
The Puffin in 1337.—In these extracts the Puffin is not 
alluded to by name, although it must have been abundant, 
for the island of Lundy is supposed to take its name from 
Lunde, a Puffin. This is the Norwegian and Icelandic name 
for it, which has not, with this exception, found its way to 
England, where we call the bird a Puffin from its puffed-out 
appearance.t 
It is a species which rejoices in a good many appellations, 
some of which, from the rounded shape of its beak, compare 
it to a Parrot. Assuredly one might have expected some 
mention of Puffins on Lundy Island, as well as of the Gannets, 
in these early documents, for Puffins have always been con- 
sidered fit for food, which was never the case with the 
Guillemot. The Church of Rome, by a stretch of conscience, 
allowed Puffins to pass as fish during the fast, and it was this 
concession which has led to their finding a place in several 
manuscripts of a slightly later date. 
Of these mentions the earliest seems to be in 1337 
(Inquisitions P.M. TX. 100, 22 Edward ITI.). In 1337 the 
possession of the Scilly Islands (caption of Seisin), another 
* Vol. ITL, p. 113 and Vol. V., p. 76. 
t Prof. W. Skeat. 
