40 WATER-BIRDS IN THEIR HOMES. 



or air-bladder protruding from the mouth, convinces him that 

 codfish are tough, and the first floater, if a large one, is aban- 

 doned for a moment for the second, should there be more than 

 one, or for a snap at the bait on the hooks. 



Their excitement by this time has attracted the attention 

 of several Western and American herring gulls, which hover 

 screaming over the sloop, too shy to attempt to touch the fish 

 while it is so near. Another ocean wanderer meantime has 

 arrived ; a short-tailed albatross, sweeping along, has noticed 

 the commotion among his lesser brethren, and with a groan- 

 ing note settles down by the floating fish, keeping all trespass- 

 ers away by a loud clattering of his mandibles ; though not 

 infrequently a fulmar will dispute possession for some time 

 with an albatross before leaving a fish he has torn open, and 

 I think a fulmar will usually rout a Western gull completely. 



In attacking a fish under the above conditions, the eyes and 

 air-bladder are first eaten, after which the abdomen is torn 

 open, if possible, and the entire contents of the skin torn out 

 piecemeal. I have, however, seen birds seated on the water 

 by the side of a fish from which they had eaten the eyes, 

 though they were unable to tear open the tough skin. 



In diving the fulmars use both feet and wings, the latter 

 only half open, the primaries seeming to be used very little, 

 if any, but kept drawn back with the secondaries. Once 

 under water they make good headway, seizing the fish, which 

 is swallowed immediately upon reaching the surface. 



Although mention has been made of their following fishing 

 sloops, fish form a very small part of their diet while on the 

 coast. In fact it is the exception. I have never found a 

 small fish in the stomachs of those I have taken, nor have 

 I seen them catch fish themselves, though I have no doubt 

 regarding their ability to do so, should they fall in with a 



