ARCTIC ZOOLOGY. 139 



when one comes to examine the peculiar character of their 

 tubular nostril, which is, to use a familiar phrase, like a 

 double-barrelled pistol. In a heavy gale, the fuhnar petrel 

 is more readily distinguished by the strength and faciUty of 

 his flight ; like all the birds of that genus, seeming to take 

 pleasure in the storm, with the greatest ease skimming in 

 every direction with truly astonishing speed, playing round 

 the ship when running ten knots an hour, and sometimes 

 breasting the mountainous wave within half an inch of the 

 surface, ascending to its greatest elevation, and in that 

 manner following it as closely in its precipitous descent. 



The ordinary length of the mallemuck is seventeen inches ; 

 the younger ones not so large. When old, they are easily 

 known by their increased voracity, and the tyrannous dis- 

 position they manifest towards the younger and more timid. 

 Stupid and fearless, they will approach near enough to be 

 killed by the stroke of a boat-hook or oar, if tempted by 

 a piece of blubber or other fat ; and, after being stunned 

 and taken into the boat, on recovering ever so little, 

 if their favourite blubber be within reach, they will 

 greedily swallow it ; and it must be a very large piece that 

 will not find its way down with them. As they appear in 

 the northern seas, they seem to have, each, but an individual 

 concern ; so that the distinctions of sex cannot be deter- 

 mined from common observation. When sated, it is true 

 they compliment each other in a short chuckling note, like 



