. The aquatic birds of Great Britain and Ireland . vi, pi. 392; Lilford, Coloured Figures, vol. vii, pi. 3 ; Booth, Rough Notes,vol. iii, plates 26 to 31. Although belonging to the same family as the Cormo-rant and Shag, with which it has close structia-al affinities,notably in the foot, the four toes of which are connected bya web, still the Gannet differs markedly in its habits of the preceding species it seldom lands except tobreed, preferring to lead a wandering pelagic life. It is offrequent occurrence around the British coasts, especially inspring, when the birds are passing
. The aquatic birds of Great Britain and Ireland . vi, pi. 392; Lilford, Coloured Figures, vol. vii, pi. 3 ; Booth, Rough Notes,vol. iii, plates 26 to 31. Although belonging to the same family as the Cormo-rant and Shag, with which it has close structia-al affinities,notably in the foot, the four toes of which are connected bya web, still the Gannet differs markedly in its habits of the preceding species it seldom lands except tobreed, preferring to lead a wandering pelagic life. It is offrequent occurrence around the British coasts, especially inspring, when the birds are passing northward in consider-able numbers to breed, and again in autumn on theirreturn journey southward. Away from its breeding-hauntsthe Gannet is not gregarious, and single birds, or gather-ings of two or three, are most frequently met with, thoughI have seen large numbers fishing together. Flight.—With its powerful lengthy pinions, and thepossession of large air-chambers under the skin (whichwhen inflated render the bird wonderfully buoyant), the. GANNET 9 Gannet is endowed with the power of saihng in the midstof the tempest, nor do the billows as they dash withunabated fury against the headlands, stay this birdspowers as it plunges fearlessly through the angry only in its great wing-power but also in the manner inwhich it dives, the Gannet differs considerably from thepreceding two species. The Cormorant and Shag dive onlyfrom the surface of the water, the Gannet, on the otherhand, descends suddenly from a considerable height in theair with closed wings and almost incredible speed, piercingthe ocean head-foremost in pursuit of fish. Food.—^When fishing, Gannets are generally met withsingly, but where food is plentiful the birds collect intocompanies varying from five to fifty or more in prey exclusively on surface-swimming fish, such asherrings and mackerel, and the impetus of the birdsdescent into the water sends the spray high into the have a vivi
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectwaterbi, bookyear1906
