1912-1913-] Notes on the Solan-Goose. 33 



VII.— NOTES ON THE SOLAN-GOOSE AND ON 

 TEE STOCKDOVE. 



By Mr TOM SPEEDY. 

 (Read April 23, 1913.) 



In view of the recent correspondence in ' The Scotsman ' re- 

 garding solan-geese sitting on chimney-pots on the tops of 

 houses in Edinburgh, it occurred to me that a short paper 

 and an exhibition of a pet bird might not be uninteresting to 

 the members of this Society. I am afraid, however, that I 

 have little to say in regard to the habits of this bird that is 

 not already known to every member. Though rarely seen 

 flying over land, except perhaps small islands, a number 

 of instances are recorded of their being shot inland at a con- 

 siderable distance from the sea. Many of us have visited the 

 Bass Eock during the breeding season, and have seen the 

 numbers that nest there. Some years ago the members of 

 this Society made a pilgrimage to the Bass, which was both 

 edifying and instructive, and which I think should be 

 repeated. 



Among the finest sights in nature, to my mind, is to watch, 

 with a pair of binoculars, the habits of the gannet when hunt- 

 ing for its prey. A greater source of admiration and interest 

 to naturalists can hardly be conceived. Sometimes skimming, 

 or rather sailing along, at other times beating its wings 

 quickly, it courses over the water at a considerable altitude 

 till it spies a fish. Partly closing its wings, like a whirlwind 

 from heaven it dashes down on its victim, causing the white 

 foam to splash as it plunges into the deep. I have noticed 

 that it sometimes reappears a good many yards from where it 

 went under. I regret never having timed the immersion, but 

 it seemed about a quarter of a minute before it reascended 

 with its prey. 



I once, at North Berwick, saw a device which seemed a 

 heartless and unnecessary one for capturing gannets when in 

 search of food. A piece of board, painted blue to resemble as 

 nearly as possible the colour of the water, and on which a 



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