ZOOLOGY.-^FULMAR. 529 



the sailor- boys for taking them. In the spring of 

 the year, before they have glutted themselves too 

 frequently with the fat of the whale, they may be 

 eaten ; and, when carefully cleared of the skin, and 

 of every particle of yellow fatty substance lying be- 

 neath it, and well soaked in water, they are pretty 

 good, particularly in " sea-pies." They are remark- 

 ably easy and swift on the wing. They can fly to 

 windward in the highest storms, and rest on the 

 water, with great composure, in the most tremen- 

 dous seas. But it is observed, that, in heavy gales, 

 they fly extremely low, generally skimming along 

 by the surface of the water. The fulmar walks 

 awkwardly, and with the legs so bent, that the feet 

 almost touch the belly. When on ice, it rests with 

 its body on the surface, and presents its breast to 

 the wind. Like the duck, it sometimes turns its 

 head backward, and conceals its bill beneath its 

 v/iiig. 



Fulmars are extremely greedy of the fat of the 

 wliale. Though few should be seen when a whale 

 is about being captured, yet, as soon as the flensing 

 process commences, they rush in from all quarters, 

 and frequently accumulate to many thousands in 

 number. They then occupy the greasy track of 

 the ship ; and, being audaciously greedy, fearlessly 

 advance within a few yards of the men employed in 

 cutting up the whale. If, indeed, the fragments of 

 fat do not float sufficiently away, they approach so 



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