THE GANNET. 
323 
hoarsely and biting at anybody who came near. At another 
time, one day in September, some boys brought a fine adult 
male which they had just caught upon the hill of Vallafiel, 
about half a mile from the sea. They said that, after making 
some slight attempts to escape, it turned and attacked them 
with its bill when they drew near. It was in good condition, 
and had apparently been in perfect health at the time of its 
capture ; therefore it seems probable that the boys were correct 
in their statement that the length of its wings hindered it from 
rising upon the level ground. [That such is the case with the 
Swift is well known.] When I laid hold of it, it made a loud 
croaking noise, and struck at me viciously ; and the stroke of a 
Gannet is a very nasty one, — never made with the bill closed, 
the endeavour being to combine a bite with a thrust. If the 
mandibles be tied together, the bird never even threatens with 
the bill. Once a Gannet was brought me which had been 
caught fast asleep on the grass at the edge of the loch of Watley. 
Afloat, in smooth water, these birds may not unfrequently be 
knocked down with an oar ; but whether this is from unreadi- 
ness at rising in a calm, or from being gorged with food, appears 
uncertain. It is perhaps going rather too far to talk of the 
absolute incibility of any species of sea-fowl to rise from per- 
fectly smooth water, but certainly my own impression is, that 
the so rising would be an extremely difiicult matter for a 
Gannet if there should chance to be no wind at the time. I 
have known one, in sound condition, when surprised inshore 
under such circumstances, positively make for the land rather 
than attempt to fly, awkwardly endeavouring to scramble up 
the slippery rocks, and so falling easily into the hands of its 
pursuers. Not, however, that a Gannet is always an easy bird 
to get hold of. I have known one, when wounded, after a long 
chase upon the water, turn upon the boat when within a few 
yards, and with open bill and hideous croaking sound come 
rushing on, aided by wings and feet, not stopping till it had 
run its bill against the bows of the boat, pecking fiercely, and 
attempting to bite when taken in the hand. 
