THE GANNET. 
257 
singular that the adults and young birds of the year are not only 
the most frequently met with around the coast of Ireland, but 
that they alone have come under the notice of some ornithologists. 
The intermediate states, and more especially the one preceding 
maturity, are rarely noticed. It has been remarked as strange 
that the old birds should be so much more frequently seen than 
the young ; but as only one young is produced, two of the former 
may during summer and autumn be expected to be seen for one 
of the latter. The young have a singular and handsome appear- 
ance : the pure white spots, disposed over the blackish-grey 
plumage, appear just as if a snow-shower had fallen on the bird ; a 
remark which equally applies to the speckled divers ( Colymbi ) ( 
A gannet, in the plumage of the second year, captured by a 
fisherman near Carrickfergus, in the month of September 1831, 
was brought alive to a bird-preserver in Belfast. This poor bird 
had a most unfortunate malformation of bill for its mode of 
fishing, the two mandibles crossing each other quite as much as 
those of the common crossbill ( Loxia curvirostra ) . I did not 
see the bird alive, but the taxidermist informed me that the body 
under the wings was so warm that his hands could hardly bear the 
heat, and that the bird was continually endeavouring to free 
itself from the host of parasitic insects with which it was infested. 
Their extraordinary number no doubt arose from the inability of 
the bird to free itself, even partially, from its tormentors with an 
instrument so ill adapted to the purpose. 
An ornithological friend once remarked, much to his surprise, 
the singular place selected by a young gannet in captivity for 
stowing away the portions of its meal left after its appetite had 
been satisfied. These, consisting of entrails, the bird tucked in 
beneath and suspended over each wing, until hunger should again 
be felt. 
Fishing . — To witness the fishing of the gannet is not only a 
beautiful, but a grand spectacle, more so to my mind than even 
the swoop of the golden eagle or the peregrine falcon at its 
“ quarry,” in which amazing power of flight and keenness of 
vision are manifested. These chase their prey in their own 
yol. hi. s 
