322 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



our sea-girt islands is more grandly majestic than the 

 Fulmar's haunt. The bird is eminently gregarious 

 during the breeding season, and here clusters in tens of 

 thousands to rear its young each year. The Fulmar 

 probably pairs for life ; it is much attached to its 

 breeding-place, and the nests are used year by year. 

 The nest is made on the face of the cliff, either on 

 rough ledges or in crevices and hollows amongst the 

 piled-up rock masses. The favourite situation is on 

 that portion of the cliff where a good layer of turf-clad 

 soil is present ; the bird evidently preferring to burrow 

 a short distance into the ground wherever possible. 

 The hole, however, is seldom big enough entirely to 

 conceal the bird, and in most cases does not more than 

 half conceal it ; whilst in a great many cases it shelters 

 itself under a projection of earth and turf. The nest is 

 slight, merely a little dry grass, and in many cases even 

 this is dispensed with. I met with a peculiar type of 

 nest on some of the bare rock-ledges and in crevices, 

 consisting entirely of small bits of rock arranged very 

 neatly. Vast numbers of birds nest close together, 

 so near in many parts of the cliffs as to almost touch 

 each other, and looking at a distance like masses of 

 snow. The birds are quite silent when disturbed, but 

 the impressive scene of the fluttering, drifting, feathered 

 hosts is beyond all description. As a rule the Fulmars 

 are somewhat loth to leave their nests, and the natives 

 take advantage of this, and snare thousands as they sit 

 on their egg. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement : 

 The Fulmar only lays a single (tg^, and it is said that 

 if this be taken no more are produced that season. It 

 is white and spotless, rough and chalky in texture, and 

 with a strong peculiar pungent smell. Average measure- 

 ment, 2'9 inches in length, by 2'0 inches in breadth. 



