378 
SWIMMERS. 
innumerable birds upon their nests, so crowded or closely ar- 
ranged as to give the appearance of a huge mass of snow, while 
the hovering crowds seen around this inaccessible marine moun- 
tain forcibly presented at a distance the actual appearance of a 
snow-storm. While thus engaged, the report of a musket did 
not seem in the least to alarm them ; and defenceless while 
obeying this powerful instinct, they allow themselves to be 
approached and despatched without using any means for 
escape, appearing riveted to the spot, while engaged in the 
affection.s and cares of reproduction. 
The nest of the (Jannet is composed chiefly of sea- weed, 
and generally placed upon the most inaccessible parts of the 
highest rocks. The egg (only one being laid before hatching) 
is white, and very like that of the Cormorant, but not nearly 
so large as the egg of the Goose, weighing about three and 
a quarter ounces. 
'I'he Gannet seems incapable of diving, — at least, no alarm 
can force it to immerse. Upon the water it swims as buoyantly 
as a Gull. When offered fish it will accept, but will never go 
into a pond after food ; and from every aj^ipearance of its 
actions on water, to which it will go only from compulsion, it 
cannot procure fish beyond the extent of its neck, .-^t times 
these birds rise from the water with so much difficulty that 
they are easily run down by a boat ; but when thus surprised 
they defend themselves with much vigor. 
Within a few years this species has deserted Gannet Rock, near 
Grand Menan, though a large number still gather on the Magdalen 
Islands, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. 
Mr. Willianr Brewster reports that in i88r he found some fifty 
thousand birds nesting on one of tliose islands, and describes the 
number as astonishing and impressive, but insignificant when com- 
pared with the legions seen tliere by Dr. Brvant some twenty years 
before. 
The food of this species consists entirely of fish, which it procures 
by diving from the wing, plunging into the water from a great 
height, — sometimes a hundred yards or more. When pursued or 
wounded, it rarely or never dives, trusting to its flight, which is 
strong and rapid. 
