THE G AN NET. 



265 



prevent them escaping from their enemies when on shore, nor have 

 they sufficient power of flight to avoid them in the air. But when 

 they are aloft, with their necks stretched out, the tail expanded, and 

 the wings almost motionless, they soar wonderfully. Although they 

 are strong on the wing, they do not venture far from shore, con- 



Fig. 98. — Gannet or Solan Goose. 



sequently they are never met with more than twenty leagues at sea. 

 Their appearance, therefore, is considered by the mariner as an indi- 

 cation of the proximity of land. In their flight they frequently skim 

 over the sea, catching such fish as swim near the surface. The skin 

 of their throat is so readily distended that they can swallow their 

 prey whole. The Gannet is also an excellent diver, for it is able to 

 remain more than a minute under water when in pursuit of food. 

 These birds are found in every part of the globe, giving the 



