564 
GANNET. 
a fourth in one season. The plumage of the young 
birds differs from that of their parents till after the 
first year, being of a dusky hue, speckled with numer- 
ous triangular white spots. Till they are sufficiently 
strong to provide for themselves they are fed by the 
old ones, who bring them herrings in their pouch, 
from whence the young extract them with their 
bill. While they are employed in fishing, they fly 
very high ; and when they observe, from their ex- 
alted situation, a shoal of herrings or pilchards pass- 
ing under them, they immediately close their wings 
to their sides, and fall headlong like a stone into the 
sea, making the water foam and spring up with their 
descent. 
The Bass-isle, which is completely stocked with 
these creatures, is private property ; therefore the 
birds are never molested by improper persons, and 
consequently afford a considerable annual profit to 
the proprietor. The dried birds are occasionally 
brought to the London markets, where we have seen 
the ceiling of a shop quite covered with them. 
The young birds are said to be a favourite dish in 
most parts of Scotland, where they are roasted, and 
served up a little before dinner as a whet. 
In the Feroe islands, as well as in the rocks about 
St. Kilda, the inhabitants hazard their lives to 
take these birds and their eggs, which serve them 
for their principal food throughout the year. Both 
eggs and fowls are kept in small pyramidal stone 
buildings, covered with turf ashes, to preserve them 
from moisture. This dangerous employment is 
