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extremities of the expanded wings, makes it a very conspicuous object as it sails majestically overhead 
or scans the surface of the rippling waves. 
It is a curious circumstance, and perfectly well attested, that shortly before the terrific Tarawera 
eruption in 1886 the Gannets suddenly disappeared from White Island and from all their other resorts 
in the Bay of Plenty *. 
On one occasion, when riding down the coast between Manawatu and Otaki, I came suddenly 
upon a Gannet asleep on the smooth sandy beach, and, dismounting from my horse, I succeeded in 
taking it before it awoke. It was a beautiful specimen, in full feather, and apparently quite healthy ; 
but it was probably worn out by fatigue and hunger, after a stormy day at sea. The description at 
the head of this article was taken from this particular bird, which is now in the Colonial Museum. 
It is a fact, although I was myself for a long time sceptical about it, that the Gannet cannot rise 
off a plane surface. On the ground it is quite helpless ; and it can only mount in the air by getting 
on to an incline and then starting outwards. 
When not fishing it generally flies pretty close to the water in a very direct course and with rapid 
and regular strokes of its narrow but powerful wings. The black pinions have a pretty effect by 
contrast with the pure white plumage of the body as the bird is thus seen skimming along the surface 
of the “ dark blue wave.” Occasionally, however, it rises higher and sometimes forms a striking 
object in the sky. For instance, I find this passing note in my journal : — “ The shores of Cook’s Strait, 
as we approach Queen Charlotte Sound, are bold and mountainous. As we proceed on our voyage, 
noble vistas open themselves to view, presenting wild and varied scenery and disclosing in the 
remote background towering peaks all shrouded in vapoury clouds. As we stand gazing at the ever- 
changing picture an object appears far away in the distance, held against the murky wall of cloud and 
mountain beyond like a boy’s kite sailing against the scud, and ever and anon glistening with pearly 
whiteness in the uncertain light. That object is a Gannet. Tired of fishing, he has mounted on 
his strong pinion and is now poising himself in mid-air and surveying far below him the troubled 
waters in which he loves to plunge.” 
The Maoris manifest great admiration for the Gannet, because of its spirit and dash in catching 
fish ; and this bird naturally takes a prominent place in the ancient story recounting a trial of strength 
between the birds of the sea and those inhabiting the land. (See page 148.) 
I had a young bird brought to me towards the end of February ; it was of full size, but in the 
immature plumage, looking very handsome in its spotted dress. I was staying at the time at the 
Wellington Club, and the bird was confined in a back yard, from which it made its escape several 
times in a very clever manner, and was always found skulking among the vegetation on the surrounding 
hills. It lived almost exclusively on fish, and had so voracious an appetite that I have known it to 
swallow as many as twenty-seven herrings in the course of a day. It never exhibited a spark of 
gratitude for this liberal supply of food, but would, on every occasion, attack its keeper’s hands in the 
fiercest manner, uttering at the same time a peculiar guttural sound as if choking. I succeeded in 
* A newspaper correspondent tlius refers to this singular coincidence : — “ The ‘ Hinomoa ’ left 'Wellington for Tauranga on 
the night after the now famous eruptions at the Hot Lakes. She carried Dr. Hector, Major Mair, and others (including myself), 
who were hound for the scene of the disturbance. Nothing more uncommon than a heavy sea is to be recorded on the passage to 
White Island. Captain Pairchild ran in close to the island, hut there was no sign of any recent disturbance, although the captain 
thought that the lake was throwing off more steam than usual, and that a mound which had latterly appeared in the lake had 
disappeared. The Gannets, however, which, to use the skipper’s description, were formerly so thick upion certain points ‘ that 
you could not stick another Gannet in,’ left the island altogether some time before the eruption and have not returned, and I 
venture to recommend their unanimity to the notice of the numerous scientists, who will, no doubt, explain in full the why and 
the wherefore. Shortly after leaving White Island we encountered a vile sulphurous smell, which came in company with a thick 
fog off the land. A little more than an hour’s running took us through the fog, which left an impalpable dust upon everything 
on deck, and formed a peculiar froth upon the sea.” 
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