308 THE BIRDS OF SUSSEX. 



dive freely, using the wings under water. The nest is 

 placed on high clifiFsj on the ledges, or grassy slopes on the 

 tops of them, and is composed of sea-weed and coarse grass, 

 torn up by the roots in masses, which is continually added 

 to during incubation. 



There have been many instances of the Gannet being picked 

 up alive, after heavy storms, sometimes far from the sea, as 

 was the case with one found near Cowfold, and brought to 

 me alive, with its feet so " clobbed," as the Sussex people 

 say, with clay, that it could not fly. Another was picked up, 

 under similar circumstances, at Shipley. In April 1837, an 

 unusual time of year for this bird to be so far south, a Gannet, 

 unable to fly, was found at sea off Hastings. 



On the 25th of February 1844, I had a Gannet sent me, 

 which had been caught alive at Kemp Town, Brighton ; he 

 could not fly, for which I could find no reason . On taking him 

 out of the hamper, he uttered a loud barking note, and fixed 

 on my hand, then transferring his attention to my arm ; I 

 got assistance, and with difiiculty succeeded in pinioning 

 him. On turning him into the water on a fenced pond, he 

 immediately returned, and gave me a highly unsatisfactory 

 peck on the leg, and seizing my trousers, shook them as a 

 dog would a rat. The next day, I tried to drive him into the 

 water with a stick, but he immediately showed fight, and 

 flew at my cloak. I had some trouble in getting rid of him, 

 but at length he was induced to go into the water, when he 

 swam to a little island, and sitting down remained quiet, 

 apparently sulky. He refused all food till March 3rd, when 

 he condescended to pick up a roach. Though I could detect 

 no difiFerence in the bird, except that he had discontinued his 

 barking note, he took at once to the water, if ashore, and 

 kept at a distance. On the 4th I threw him two dead sea- 

 bream, to which he swam up, but before he came to the 

 floating fish, thrust the whole head and neck under water 



