GAN NET. 
67 
On the approach of winter the Gannet migrates south¬ 
ward ; on departing from our shores they first go to 
the Channel in pursuit of herrings and pilchards that 
habitually leave the shallow water of the coast for deep 
water at that time of the year, and proceed further to 
the Bay of Biscay, to the coasts of Portugal, Spain, and 
the Mediterranean, and extend even to the southern coast 
of Africa, where they pass the winter, as well as in the 
intermediate parts. The open sea is the proper locality 
for the Gannet; it comes nearer to the shores of the 
different countries enumerated only in pursuit of its food, 
or during the breeding season; and when it is driven in¬ 
land by a continuance of very stormy weather, or some 
unforeseen circumstances, the straggling bird is entirely out 
of its element, flies on and on until it drops exhausted 
to the ground, and may either be picked up or knocked 
down with a stick, without its making any attempt to 
escape, or to defend itself. While on land, during the 
breeding season, it prefers the most naked and barren 
rocks, or such as are only partly covered by short grass ; 
this bird, however, roosts at night either on such rocks, 
or on isolated rocks in the sea; but for want of either, 
during long journeys, it rests itself on the water for a 
short time, and then takes wing again in order to reach 
its destination. The Gannet is better qualified for flying 
than swimming, or walking, and it might easily be taken 
for a tern, if its wings were not shorter and its tail more 
pointed than in that genus. Its evolutions are very beau¬ 
tiful and expert, and its manner of obtaining its food, 
which consists entirely of fish, is very peculiar, as it does 
not seem to be gifted with the knowledge of diving in 
the. usual manner practised by water birds; but skims 
over the surface of the water at a higher or lower eleva- 
