338 



BBITISH BIRDS 



species, and in winter inhabits the Atlantic and Pacific oceans in the 

 northern hemisphere. On the British coasts it is a rare straggler 

 in winter, and its only breeding-station in the United Kingdom is 

 at St. Kilda. It is said that formerly there were several colonies 

 on the west coast of Scotland, but these no longer exist. In its 

 manner of flight and general appearance the fulmar is gull-like, and 

 may easily be mistaken for a gull. Like other petrels, it lives, 

 when not engaged in breeding, on the open sea, and it often follows 

 the deep-sea fishing-boats and whalers, to feed on the offal thrown 



Fig. 114. — Fulmab. h natural size. 



out and portions of blubber floating on the water. Seebohm says 

 that * if a piece of meat be thrown to them, they often seize it 

 before it sinlis, but instead of diving after it, as a duck or guillemot 

 would do, they alight on the surface feet first, and in the most 

 comical way let themselves sink down in the water with uplifted 

 wings.' 



The fulmar lays a single white egg in a shallow hole dug in the 

 peaty soil. Dixon has the following graphic account of the breed- 

 ing-haunts and habits of the fulmar : * In many places, although 

 the cliff is very precipitous, it is covered with grass, sorrel, and 

 other plants, and a loose, rich soil. It is in such spots that the ful- 

 mar breeds in the greatest numbers. I shall never forget the im- 

 posing effect of this noble bird-nursery. . . . When I reached the 

 summit the scene was grand : tens of thousands of fulmars were 



