752 FULMAR. 



of the older ornithologists, as well as by specimens, it would appear 

 that, until recently, the birds found nesting as far north as that 

 group had white under-parts, and their young in the first plumage 

 resembled them — as I pointed out in ' Yarrell,' vol. iv. p. 5, as long 

 ago as 1884; but further north a form with greyish under-parts 

 had also been observed, and this phase seems to be making its way 

 southward, even to the Scottish islands. In Iceland, where the 

 species is very common, the grey race is said to predominate in the 

 north, and the same is the case on the western side of Davis Strait 

 and Bafifin Bay, though at Ovifak in Greenland the light-breasted 

 bird nests in myriads ; round Spitsbergen both forms occur, but the 

 grey-breasted bird forms a large majority ; one or both phases breed 

 on Franz Josef Land; while a Fulmar of some kind was met with by 

 Mr. Popham in long. 77° E. in the Kara Sea, as well as by Dr. Nansen 

 in long. 130'^ E., and far to the north of the Lena delta. Bering Sea 

 is inhabited by F. rodgersi ; and F. gli/pischa, which has a light and 

 a dark phase, frequents the North Pacific. In winter the Fulmar 

 has been met with about as far south as lat. 43° in European waters, 

 and in America it is well known as the " Noddy " on the fishing- 

 banks off Massachusetts and Maine. 



The single egg is laid on a ledge or in a slight excavation on the 

 grassy shelf of a lofty cliff; its shell — which is roughly granulated 

 and has a strong musky smell — is at first pure white, with occa- 

 sionally a few minute reddish-brown spots : measurements 2 "9 

 by I '9 in. Both sexes incubate, and a low croon is sometimes 

 uttered. Large numbers of birds are annually taken by the St. 

 Kildans. who make use of the clear amber-coloured oil which the 

 bird vomits on being seized, and with which it nourishes the young. 

 The Fulmar is a constant attendant on whalers, sealers &c. — who 

 know it as the " MoUymawk " — in order to obtain fatty substances 

 and animal offal : but I never saw it take any food while on the 

 wing, and it always settles on the water to feed, just as an Albatross 

 does. The pinions are often flapped slowly in an owl-like manner, 

 but in scudding they are held very straight — a peculiarity by which 

 the Fulmar may easily be distinguished from a Gull at a distance. 



The adult has the mantle and tail grey, quills dusky ; head, neck 

 and under-parts either white or of varying shades of grey ; front part 

 of the bill yellow, sides yellowish-white, nasal tubes olive-colour ; 

 legs and feet ash-colour. Length 19 in.; wing i3"25 in. The young 

 bird is slightly smaller, and has a darker bill ; that part being still 

 darker in the grey form. 



