Cartagena. These birds live exclusively upon fishes 

 and follow the migratory millions of herrings, pilchards, 

 and mackerel as long as they remain near the surface, 

 working their voracious will upon the hordes by day, 

 and sleeping on the water above them during the dark 

 hours ; but I know, from personal observation, that the 

 Gannet carries on its fishing by the light of the moon, 

 as I well remember that, on a certain brilliant and per- 

 fectly still night in August, as we lay becalmed off 

 Ferrol, these great birds were plunging around us in all 

 directions in pursuit (as I believe) of sardines. The 

 method of fishing adopted by this bird is a constant 

 source of admiration and interest to those whose business 

 or pleasure takes them on to the sea, as the operations 

 of the Gannet are easy to observe : one after another, and 

 often many together, precipitate themselves headlong, 

 often from a great height, into the sea, disappear for a few 

 seconds, and emerge to recommence work. A The flight 

 of the Gannet is very powerful and long-sustained, and it 

 is a light and graceful swimmer, though, as may well be 

 supposed, its actions on land are grotesque and awkward 

 in the extreme. For excellent details as to the very 

 remarkable changes of plumage in this species, from 

 the nest to maturity, I cannot do better than refer to 

 Mr. E. T. Booth's 'Rough Notes/ and the accompanying 

 illustrations by Mr. Ed. Neale. 



