P E L I C A N. 609 



more especially feveral of the northern ifles, and in particular that 

 of the Bafs in Scotland, whence the name. It generally firft: 

 makes its appearance in March, and after making a circuit of the 

 ifland, departs in OtJoher or November *. This race feems to be 

 in purfuit after the Herrings and Pilchards, whofe motions it 

 watches ; and the fifherman knows the coming of thefef/b by the 

 appearance of the birds. That this is the inducement feems pro- 

 bable, as they are likewife feen, in the month of December, as far 

 fouth as the coaft of Lijbon and Gibraltar, plunging (or fardina f. 

 The Gannet is alfo common on the coafts of Norway, and thofe of 

 Iceland, and now and then met with on the fouthern coafts of 

 Greenland. In America, found on the coafts of Newfoundland* 

 where ic breeds ; migrating in winter as far as Carolina. Said alfo 

 to have been met with frequently by our feveral voyagers in many 

 parts of the fouthern ocean ; but we are not clear whether the fort 

 meant by them is the common Gann-et here treated of, or the leffer 

 one, below described J. 



The neft is compofed of various matter, fuch as grafs and fea- 

 sants, intermixed with any thing the bird finds floating on the 

 water. It lays only one egg, which is white, rather lefs than that 

 of a Goofe; if this egg be taken away, the bird will lay a fecondj 

 and fhould this be taken alfo, a third; but on the lofs of the laft 

 can furnifh no more that feafon. The young Gamuts are brought 

 to Edinburgh, and fold at twenty pence apiece, and, being roaftedj, 

 are ferved up a little before dinner, by way of whet; but the in- 

 habitants of the ifle of St. Kilda make thefe birds a great article 



* According as the inhabitants take or leave the firft egg. Br. Zool. ' f Id. 

 X See Cook's Voy. i. p. 10, 11. — Haiukef. Voy. ii. p. 382, 3. 439, 637, and 

 other places. 



Vol. III. 4 1 of 



