55 o FULMAR. Class II. 



to land, no weft wind is expected for fome time •, 

 and the contrary when it returns and keeps the fea. 



The whole genus of Petrels have a peculiar fa- 

 culty of fpouting from their bills, to a confider- 

 able diftance, a large quantity of pure oil-, which 

 they do by way of defence, into the face of any 

 that attempts to take them : fo that they are, for 

 the fake of this panaccca, feized by furprize ; as 

 this oil is fubfervient to the above-mentioned medi- 

 cal ufes. Martin tells us, it has been ufed in Lon- 

 don and Edinburgh with fuccefs, in Rheumatic cafes. 

 Descrip. The fize of this bird is rather fuperior to that 

 of the common gull : the bill very ftrong, much 

 hooked at the end, and of a yellow color. The 

 noftrils are compofed of two large tubes, lodged 

 in one fheath : the head, neck, whole under fide of 

 the body, and tail, are white ; the back, and co- 

 verts of the wings am colored : the quil feathers 

 dufky : the legs yellowim. In lieu of a back toe, 

 it has only a fort of fpur, or fharp (trait nail. Thefe 

 birds feed on the blubber or fat of whales, &c. 

 which, being foon convertible into oil, fupplies 

 them conftantly with means of defence, as well 

 as provifion for their young, which they caft up in- 

 to their mouths. They are likewife faid to feed on 

 forrel, which they ufe to qualify the undtious diet 

 they live on. 



Frederick Martens, who had opportunity of feeing 

 vaft numbers of thefe birds at Spitzbergen, obferves, 

 that they are very bold, and refort after the whale 



fifhers 



