178 
worn and broken, probably the result of captivity. The facial membrane was nearly as blue as in the adult, 
but the lines on the tarsi and toes were of a much paler green ; irides as in the adult. 
By the end of October the head, neck, and underparts had assumed the plumage of the adult. The 
shoulders, back, and upper surface of wings Avere blackish brown, irregularly marked or variegated with 
white, all the new feathers being pure white, this transitional plumage haAung a very pretty effect. The 
white tips had disappeared from the scapulars, and were much worn and denuded on the Aving-coverts ; but 
the spots were still visible on the back and rump. 
Nestling. Covered with thick woolly down of the purest white ; forehead and cheeks denuded and of a yellowish 
colour. The woolly covering stands up and over the crown, giving the bird a peculiar “judicial look ” which 
is very comical •, bill black, with greyish tip to both mandibles j legs pale brown, with visible lines of paler 
broAvn along the tarsi and toes. The wing-feathers, which are the first to appear above the down, are black 
with white tips. 
Remarks. The form of this bird is specially adapted to its plunging-habits, the body being very elongated and 
compressed on the sides, the neck long and powerful, and the head wedge-shaped in front, with a flattened 
croAvn. The throat is capable of great dilatation ; and the bill, Avhich is longer than the head and strongly 
formed, has a peculiar hinge-like development, the purpose of which is very obvious •, on each side of the 
rounded culmen there is a deep longitudinal furrow, which forks laterally about an inch from the tip ; below 
this the sides of the upper mandible are slightly convex, and toAvards the base there is a jointed notch, which, 
being elastic, adds considerably to the expansive power of the bill as a means of seizure. A bare membrane, 
extending from the base of the upper mandible, occupies the lores, turns sharply round the eyes, and ends 
in a narrow process about an inch in length and in a line with the gape ; a similar membrane covers the 
throat, and passing doAvn the middle of the gnlar pouch, terminates acutely. The tongue is rudimentary, 
being only a quarter of an inch in length, and free at both extremities. The nasal apertures are extremely 
small. The feet are strong, the toes webbed to their extremities, the claws short and convex, the middle one 
being flat and pectinate on its inner edge. The tarsi and toes are armed anteriorly with a line of soft 
scutella, which differ in colour from the surrounding parts. The total weight of the bird is only 3 lb. 
Obs. The first moult Avould seem to take place before the young birds leave the breeding-ground, inasmuch as the 
spotted plumage is never met with at sea. 
The Gannet is comparatively common on our coasts, and, during tempestuous weather, enters the bays 
and harbours in quest of its food. 
It is a powerful flier ; and it is very interesting to watch it while in pursuit of its finny prey : 
poising its body for an instant in mid-air, it plunges headlong into the sea, with a velocity that makes 
the spray rise several feet, entirely disappearing under the surface for some seconds, and then springing 
upwards with the buoyancy of a cork ; after which it rests on the water for several minutes, and then 
takes wing again, to renew the feat. 
In stormy weather it frequents our bays and harbours, being able to continue there its fishing- 
operations in spite of the weather. When the proverbial S.E. gale is blowing at Wellington, a few 
of them are always to be seen on the wing, coursing up and down the harbour, and a few amidst the 
shipping, sometimes mounting high, and ever and anon plunging under water. From the ocean- 
beach I have watched them, for hours together, when the sea Avas calm, foraging in pairs, crossing and 
recrossing each other’s line of flight with untiring industry and occasionally resting for a few minutes 
on the placid surface. 
On the Whangarei river, several miles from the sea, I saw on one occasion several of these birds 
flying low over the quiet waters, and occasionally rising high in the air as if to reconnoitre ; but 
their appearance at this distance from the sea is very unusual. 
In dull murky weather the snow-Avhite plumage of this bird, rendered more striking by the black 
