42 BULLETIN 121, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



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 net one or more fish become de- 

 tached from the hooks ; such fish, if loosened after having been raised twenty 

 fathoms, are sure to rise to the surface a few feet to the windward of the boat. 

 The pressure of the water being suddenly removed, the internal pressure be- 

 comes so great that the fish is greatly distended and rises helpless to the surface. 



With a hoarse croak and wings outspread the nearest fulmar pounces upon the 

 unfortunate cod, keeping all others at bay with threatening beak. A few hasty 

 snaps at the eyes or air bladder protruding from the mouth convinces him that 

 codfish are tough, and the first floater, if a large one, is abandoned for the 

 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 groaning note settles down by the floating 

 fish, keeping all trespassers away by a loud clattering of 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 entii'ely. 



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 fish from which they had eaten the eyes, but were 

 unable to tear open the tough skin. 



The bait on fish hooks left hanging over the sides of the boat is often taken 

 within a few feet of the fisherman, and birds are not infrequently hooked, much 

 to the disgust of both the fisherman and the bird. Their confidence in mankind 

 is at all times very great. I have several times seen them killed by Portuguese 

 fishermen who had but to drop a small piece of fish overboard and hit the bird 

 with a club when it swam up to get it. 



DISTRIBUTION, 



Breeding range. — Coasts and islands of northeastern Asia. From 

 the Kurile and Commander Islands northward along the Kam- 

 chatka coast to East Cape, Siberia. The breeding range of rodgersi 

 might be added to this, as the two are probably the same species. 



Winter range. — Northern portions of Pacific Ocean. South on the 

 American side to Lower California (San Geronimo Island), in the 

 Pacific Ocean to about 30° North and on the Asiatic side to Japan 

 (Yokohama). North to the Aleutian Islands and southern Bering 

 Sea, as far as open water extends. 



Spring migration. — Leaves southern California in April : Point 

 Pinos, April 15 ; San Diego, April 26. 



Fall inigration. — Early dates of arrival : Alaska, Baranof Island, 

 September 6; British Columbia, Ilwaco, October 30 to November 10; 

 California, Monterey, October 13 (July and August records are for 



