FROG-MOUTH— FULMAR 295 



the upper plumage is of a vexy dark chocolate brown, nearly black, 

 with a bright metallic gloss, while the feet in the females are pink, 

 and black in the males — the last also acquiring a bright scarlet 

 pouch, capable of inflation, and being perceptible when on the 

 wing. The habits of F. minor seem wholly to resemble those of 

 F. aquila. According to Bechstcin {Orn. Taschenb. pp. 393, 394), 

 an example of this last species was obtained at the mouth of the 

 Weser in the winter of 1792, and it has hence been included by 

 some ornithologists among European birds ! 



FROG-MOUTH, Jerdon's rendering (B. Incl i. p. 189), since 

 adopted by Anglo-Indian writers, of Gould's Batrachostomiis, a genus 

 which he instituted in 1838 (Icones Avium, pt. ii.) for some Night- 

 jars, apparentl}^ allied to Podargus (Morepork), and found in 

 India and some parts of the Malay Archipelago. 



FULFER, a corrupt form of Fieldfare. 



FULMAR, from the Gaelic Falmair or Fuhnaire, the Fulmarus 

 glacialis of modern ornithologists, one of the largest of the Pro- 

 cellariidx (Petrels) of the northern hemisphere, being about the 

 size of tjie Common Gull {Larus canus) and not unlike it in general 

 coloration, except that its primaries are grey instead of black. 

 This bird, which ranges over the North Atlantic, is seldom seen on 

 the European side below lat. 53° N., but on the American side 

 comes habitually to lat. 45°, or even lower. It has been commonly 

 believed to have two breeding -places in the British Islands, 

 namely, the group of islands collectively known as St. KJilda, and 

 South Barra ; but, according to the late Mr. Robert Gray (B. TF. 

 Scotl. p. 499), it has abandoned the latter since 1844, while he was 

 assured of its now breeding in Skye.^ Northward it established 

 itself about 1838 on Myggenaes Holm, one of the Faeroes, while it 

 has several stations off" the coast of Iceland and Spitsbergen, as 

 well as at Bear Island. Its range towards the pole seems to be 

 only bounded by open water, and it is the constant attendant upon 

 all who are employed in the whale- and seal-fisheries, shewing the 

 greatest boldness in approaching boats and ships, and feeding on 

 the offal obtained from them. By our seamen it is commonly 

 called the " Molly Mawk " ^ (corrupted from the Dutch Mallemugge), 

 and is extremely well known to them, its flight, as it skims over 

 the waves first with a few beats of the wings and then gliding for 

 a long way, being very peculiar. It only visits the land to deposit 

 its single white egg, which is laid on a rocky ledge, where a 



^ Messrs. Harvie- Brown and Buckley {Vert. Faun. Out. Eehrid. p. 157) 

 mention a report of a settlement of the species having been eflfected in the 

 Flannan Islands, but proof of it is wanting. There is, however, reason to believe 

 that it breeds in North Eona. 



- A name misapplied in the southern hemisphere to some of the smaller 

 species of Albatros (see Mallemuck). 



