OF BIRDS. 
233 
ously attends the shoal in their passage, keeps with thdna in 
their whole circuit round Great Britain, and shares with 
the fishermen this exhaustless banquet. As it i^.strong 
of wing, it never comes near the land, but is constant to* 
its prey. Wherever this bird is seen, it is sure to an- 
nounce to the fishermen the arrival of the finny tribe; they 
then prepare their nets, and take the herrings by millions 
at a draught; while the informer comes, though an un- 
bidden guest, and snatches its prey from the fisherman 
even in his boat. While the fishing season continues, tho 
gannets are busily employed: but when the pilchards dis-g 
appear from the coasts, they take their leave to keep • 
them company. i 
These birds breed but once a year, and lay only one 
egg, but if that be taken away, they lay another; and if 
that be also taken away, then a third; but never more for 
that season. Their eggs are white, and rather less than 
those of the common goose; and their nest large, com- 
posed of such substances as are found floating on the sur- 
face of the sea. The young birds during the first year, 
differ greatly in colour from the old ones; being of a 
dusky hue, speckled with numerous triangular white 
spots. 
These birds, when they pass from place to place, unite 
in small flocks of from five to fifteen; and, except in very 
fine weather, fly low, near the shore, but never pass over 
it; doubling the capes and projecting parts, and keeping 
nearly at an equal distance from the land. During their 
fishing they rise high into the air, and sail aloft over the 
shoals of herrings or pilchards, much in the manner of 
kites. When they observe the shoal crowded thick to- 
gether, they close their wings to their sides, and precipi- 
tate themselves head foremost into the water, dropping 
almost like a stone. Their eye in this act is so correct, 
that they never fail to rise with a fish in their mouth,* — * 
If in flying away with one, they see another they like 
better, they immediately drop the first to regain it. 
Eider Duck. (Anas Mollissima. Lath. PI. 39.) The 
eider duck is about twice the size of the common English 
duck. Its bill is black and cylindrical; the feathers of 
% 2 
