FEEDING HABITS OF THE FULMARS. 39 



flocks of black-vented shearwaters, one or two in a flock of 

 fifty. 



Unlike the shearwaters, however, they seldom pass a craft 

 without turning aside at least to make a circuit about it before 

 flying on. If the vessel is a fishing sloop, sounding on the 

 banks, the chances are in favor of the shearwaters being forgot- 

 ten and allowed to disappear in the distance while the fulmar 

 settles lightly down on the water within a few yards of the 

 fisherman. The next fulmar that passes will, after having 

 made the regulation circuit, join the first, until within a few 

 minutes a flock of six or eight of these most graceful and 

 handsome petrels have collected, dancing about on the waves 

 as light and buoyant as corks. 



As the lines are hauled up after a successful sound, the long 

 string of often twenty or thirty golden-red fish is seen 

 through the limpid water while still several fathoms down, 

 and great excitement prevails. Any fulmars that have grown 

 uneasy and have started out on the periodical circuit of the 

 craft, immediately alight a few yards to the windward. Those 

 that are on the water and have drifted away hasten to the 

 spot, with wings outspread and feet pattering along on the 

 water. 



It is more than likely that in hauling up the line one or 

 more fish have become detached from the hooks ; such fish, 

 if loosened after having been raised from twenty fathoms, 

 are sure to rise to the surface a few feet to the windward 

 of the boat. The pressure of the deep water being suddenly 

 removed, the air in the air-bladder expands so quickly that 

 the fish is greatly distended, and rises helpless to the surface. 



With a hoarse croak and wings outspread the nearest ful- 

 mar pounces upon the unfortunate cod, keeping all others at 

 bay with threatening beak. A few hasty snaps at the eyes. 



