The young of the gannet, a large seabird with pointed wings and tails and a handsome smooth yellow head with fierce markings around the eyes. The young are coloured almost like starlings. In parts of the Outer Hebrides the guga is treated as a delicacy to be served at Christmas. The guga, which oozes black oil, is singed and caked in salt crystals. When Christmas comes, the salt is scrubbed off, the bird is then soaked and boiled, with several changes of water, for an hour and a half. Even those who know about guga suggest that they should be cooked outside because of the dreadful smell and the flavour is said to resemble a cross between a duck and a mackerel. The birds are protected and only 2,000 may be taken each year. Remind me never to go to the Outer Hebrides fro Christmas.
