GANXET. 
18 
to them amongst the herrings, dropping the fish the moment they had seized it. ^ hen herrings were not to 
he procured, I have known them accept the pilchards as a last resource ; hut they were evidently taken 
without relish. I tried them with several other varieties of the tinny tribe, such as pollack, haddock, whiting, 
mullet, and smelts, hut not one would they ever swallow of their own accord. During hot sultry weather in 
July and August I often remarked the birds were but little inclined for food. A fish would occasionally 
be taken, but after being tossed in a sportive manner from one to the other, it was usually relinquished. E'er 
a week, at times, this behaviour was noticed, though now and then they might be tempted to accept a fish or 
two by offering them their food towards evening, when the fierce heat of the day had passed. 
The walking-powers of the Gannet can seldom be studied while the bird is in a Avild state. It is usually 
alloAved that they are extremely aAvkAvard: this is certainly the case on rough ground, but OA^er an even 
surface they are able to make their AA’ay Avith about the agility of a farmyard Goose. I soon learned that 
the great difficulty (indeed the only one) in keeping the birds in health Avas to provide them Avith a suitable 
exercising-ground. In the first instance, the enclosure in Avhich they Avere turned out Avas laid doAvn Avith 
a foundation of chalk about a couple of feet in thickness, and on this fine gra\"el was spread. Two or three 
of the birds soon shoAA'ed signs of lameness, and the soles of their feet became swelled. As I considered 
the graA'el too rough it Avas removed, and sea-sand put down in its place to a thickness of about six inches. 
For a month or so this ansAvered admirably, and their feet (the swellings having previously discharged) rapidly 
recovered. I had just come to the conclusion that the sand AA'as all that could be desired, Avhen the Aveather, 
Avhich had for some time been wet and dull, rapidly changed, and after a fcAV hot days a strong breeze, 
increasing into a heaA'y gale, set in. The next time I A'isited the birds the aspect of their enclosure Avas 
completely altered; the Avhole of the sand that had not been bloAvn into the pond AA'as banked up like a 
snoAv-drift along one side. As the place Avas much exposed, and consequently al\A*ays liable to be affected 
in this manner by the force of the Avind, the sand Avas removed, and the surface of the chalk rolled and 
beaten doAvn as far as possible. This appeai’ed to suit the birds Avell ; Avith a single exception, they had no 
return of the swellings, and the one that suffered occasionally, recovered rapidly Avhen once the corn broke 
and discharged. After the chalk had been doAA'n for a year or tAA'o, small patches of grass began to show 
themselves. I then had grass-seed soAvn thickly, and the place constantly watered ; it soon became completely 
covered with a fine short turf, Avhich, owing to the chalk foundation, nev'er became damp or spongy. 
The young birds at the age of five or six months, Avith the exception previously referred to, shoAved 
themselves as playful and mischievous as a litter of puppies. They proved, hoAA'ever, someAvhat destructive 
to plants and shrubs : any branch or stick they were able to tear up was immediately seized hold of and 
dragged from one to the other for hours. A Water-Rail, Avhich had been caught and turned into the garden 
Avhere they lived, Avas a source of great amusement to the Geese. The active little bird appeared but 
slightly disconcerted by the treatment ; at least, he was perpetually trying how near he could get to them 
without being snapped up. On one occasion, having incautiously v'entured too close to a Gannet that AAms 
merely feigning sleep, he was seized in a moment. For a second or tAvo the unfortunate bird disappeared 
in the capacious throat of his captor ; but before I could come to his rescue Avas again free, and, aided by 
legs and Avings, speedily gained the friendly shelter of the bushes before the other Gannets which Avere 
Avaddling up could cut off his retreat. 
That a Avild Gannet Avould molest any diminutive member of the feathered tribe is improbable, though 
the tame birds not uufrequently amused themselves in this manner. I happened to be AA^atching a party 
of SparroAvs making an attack on the corn provided for some tame Gulls, Avhen a Gannet, Avho was restino* 
with his head draAvn back and apparently perfectly unconcerned Avith Avhat Avas going on, suddenly dashed out 
his neck, and seizing an unlucky SparroAV, bolted it in a moment. Considering the skill Avith which the 
seizure AAms effected deserved to be reAvarded, I hit upon a plan to render the capture more easy. Removing 
