404 
GANNET. 
reaching the top, had it not been for the kindness of the keepers of the light that had been 
placed on the top of the island some three years previous. They having noticed our arriv¬ 
al, had lowered a bucket which was suspended by a crane, and we stepping into it, slow¬ 
ly ascended, swinging back and forth as we went upward, until we reached a narrow shelf, 
some thirty feet from the top, on which we stepped, climbed a ladder, and found ourselves on 
top of Bird Rock, which although only about an acre in area, furnished ground enough to 
fully occupy my attention for some time, as shortly after our arrival the sea rose, and our 
not very courageous captain, fearing for the safety of his ship, weighed anchor, sailed away, 
and left us on this lonely islet, where we were obliged to remain ten days. 
Among the most noticeable birds on the rock, were the Gannets, and they occupied a 
considerable space on the north-west side of the upper portion. Here the soil was com¬ 
pletely denuded of vegetation and the bulky nests which were composed of sea-weed, were 
placed in long rows, about a foot apart, reminding one strongly of hills of corn. This reg¬ 
ularity was due to the fact, that the Gannets are quarrelsome birds and will not permit 
another to approach within striking distance' when they are sitting. Early in the morning, 
when all the birds were on the nests, they presented a singular appearance, for there was 
fully a quarter of an acre of Gannets. They were remarkably unsuspicious, allowing one 
to approach within a few feet of them, but when fairly startled, they would all scramble 
helter-skelter, to the edge of the cliff, when they would launch out into the air, with loud 
cries. The hideous din made by this living cataract as it poured down from above, startled 
those which nested on the shelves of the cliffs beneath, causing them to take wing, thus 
increasing their numbers to such an extent, that when we reached the edge of the preci¬ 
pice, there were, at least, ten thousand Gannets before us, flying high over the surging 
waves. A sight like this is rarely seen and strongly reminded one of a snow-storm, when 
the countless flakes whirl in wild confusion. At first, the birds hovered directly about the 
island but quickly assumed a systematic method of flight, which I afterward observed was 
constantly practiced by them. They would approach the rock, coming so near that we 
could almost feel the wind caused by their huge wings, and curving outward, would de¬ 
scribe an immense circle of half a mile or more in diameter; as each followed its neighbor in 
this singular course, the whole soon formed a huge wheel which whirled swiftly around for 
some time, when the birds would disperse. 
We found that the Gannets of Bird Rock deposited one, or rarely two, eggs, pure 
white at first, but these soon became soiled, as the birds are far from being neat. When 
disturbed, every bird would disgorge some fish before flying away, and thus the ground 
was strewed with the half digested contents of their stomachs, which, when the hot sun 
shown on it, soon gave out an intolerable stench. The Gannets were always repairing 
their nests and frequently one would come flying in with a mass of dripping sea-weed which 
it had taken from the water, and pitching heavily upon the shelf, would arrange it on its 
nest. But no sooner had the bird placed it in a satisfactory manner, when perhaps it would 
be seized by some neighbor (hat had been watching the opperation and now endeavored to 
appropriate the material for its own use. The theft although boldly perpetrated, was not 
always successfully accomplished, for the victim of this outrage would, stoutly contest the 
prize by striking out fiercely with its powerful bill, often causing the plunderer to relin- 
guish its booty. A violent struggle would then ensue, during which many blows would 
