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FULMAEUS. FULIHAR. 



The Fulmars are birds of moderate size, and rather stout 

 form, which inhabit the northern seas, and resemble Gulls 

 in their aspect and habits. Their bill is rather shorter than 

 the head, stout, moderately compressed, straight, but with 

 the tip much decurved. Upper mandible Avith the dorsal 

 plate separated by grooves from the sides, the edges direct and 

 sharp, the tip or terminal unguis strong, decurved, acute. 

 Lower mandible Avith the angle long and narrow, the sides 

 erect, with a longitudinal groove, the dorsal line very short, 

 ascending, slightly concave, the edges sharp, decurved at the 

 end. 



Mouth wdde ; tongue slender, tapering, pointed ; oesopha- 

 gus wide, and within the thorax dilated into an oval sac of 

 enormous size ; stomach small, reversed or turned upside 

 down ; intestine of moderate length and Avidth. 



The legs are of ordinary length ; the tarsus rather stout, 

 and reticulated ; the hind toe extremely small, Avith a conical 

 claAV ; the anterior toes slender ; their membranes full ; the 

 claAvs arched, compressed, acute. 



The plumage is full and close ; the Avings very long, nar- 

 roAV, and pointed ; the tail rather short. 



They nestle in rocky places, lay a single Avhite egg, feed 

 on oily and other substances, and on being seized or Avounded 

 disgorge a quantity of oil more or less pure. 



