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pelecanida:. 
Shag and a Diver, or an Oyster-catcher and a Curlew, — birds 
closely similar in habits, but differing most entirely in the 
impression they give to one who is familiar with them. 
I once saw a whole row of Shags hissing and making menaces 
in the queerest way, as we came close under them in a boat, in 
a very wild part of Shetland, holding their ground firmly until 
dislodged by an active young fellow of the boat’s crew. They 
were defending the young, nearly fledged, which, by the way, 
bit and scratched like so many wild kittens. — Ed.] 
THE GANNET. 
Sida alba. 
It is often said that the Gannet habitually breeds in Shetland, 
but I very much question the accuracy of the assertion, even 
though I have repeatedly seen the birds in the breeding season 
upon the North Stack, upon which rock, as also upon the 
Outstack, they are thought by many of the fishermen to nest. 
The best local authorities fully agree with me in this matter. 
There is no time of the year, however, in which a few stray 
Gannets may not be met with. Sometimes a southerly gale 
will bring us a flock of them. 
As a general rule, they do not care to come very far up the 
voes to fish, but one New Year’s Day I remember to have seen 
several of them sailing about inland, attracted apparently by 
the flocks of Herring Gulls which were in the meadows. A 
day or two afterwards a boy brought me a living specimen 
which he had picked up near the beach at Haroldswick, and 
showed me his hand severely bitten in capturing it. On the 
following day, early in the morning, a woman brought me 
another Gannet which she had just found in the fields at 
Halligarth. She too had been bitten in the hand. The bird 
ran about outside the door without attempting to fly, but on 
my sending Kobbie down with it to the beach it flew off easily 
as soon as he tossed it up. It was very savage, croaking 
