THE CAN NET. '323 



Peculiar habits Pennant's remarks. 



They likewise disgorge a great quantity of fish,, 

 which were formerly used as food by the garrison 

 of the castle. The young, during the first year, 

 differ greatly from the old ones; being of a 

 dusky hue, and speckled with numerous triangu- 

 lar white spots. While the female is employed 

 in incubation, the male supplies her with food; 

 and the young itself extracts its food from the 

 pouch of the parent, with its bill as with a 

 pincer. 



These birds, when they pass from place to 

 place, unite in small flocks of from five to fif- 

 teen : and, except in very fine weather, fly low, 

 near the shore, but never pass over it; doubling 

 the capes and projecting parts, and keeping 

 nearly at an equal distance from the land. Dur- 

 ing their fishing they rise high into the air, and 

 sail aloft over the shoals of herrings or pilchards, 

 much in the manner of kites. When they ob- 

 serve the shoal crowded thick together, they 

 close their wings to their sides and precipitate 

 themselves, head-foremost, into the water, drop- 

 ping almost like a stone. Their eye in this act 

 is so correct, that they never fail to rise with a, 

 fish in their mouth. 



Mr. Pennant says, that the natives of Saint 

 Kilda hold this bird in much estimation, and 

 often undergo the greatest risks to obtain it. 

 Where this is possible, they climb up the rocks 

 which it frequents; and in doing this they pass 



