THE MANX SHEARWATER 305 
The flesh of the Fulmar is also a favourite food with the St. Kildans, 
who like it all the better on account of its oily nature. 
The Fulmar is essentially a sea-bird, and never comes to land 
except in the breeding season, when it builds its nest of herbage on 
the grassy shelves of the highest cliffs, and lays a single egg, if 
which be taken, it lays no more. The young birds are fed with 
oil by the parents, and on being molested spurt out through the 
throat and open mouth the same fluid, which, being of a rank 
smell, infects not only the nest, but the whole neighbourhood. The 
young birds, which are taken early in August, are boiled, and made 
to furnish a large quantity of fat, which is skimmed off and pre- 
served for winter use. The old birds are considered great dainties. 
In the Arctic regions the Fulmar is well known for its assiduity 
in attending on whale ships, keeping an eager watch for anything 
thrown over; and when the operation of cutting up a whale is 
going on, helping itself most greedily to stray pieces of offal, and 
venturing so near as to be easily knocked down by a boathook or 
to be taken by hand. 
Owing to the rankness of its food, the smell of the Fulmar is 
very offensive. A specimen recently shot was brought to me in 
Norfolk, early in January, 1862, and being a great rarity, was 
carefully preserved and set up; but on being sent home from the 
bird-stuffer’s it was banished to an outhouse, where it has remained 
for three months without losing anything of its offensive odour. 
THE GREAT SHEARWATER 
' PUFFINUS MAJOR 
Bill two inches long ; tail pointed ; upper plumage dusky; under, deep ash 
grey. Length eighteen inches. 
THE Great Shearwater is far less abundant than the preceding 
species, and may indeed be considered a rarity. A few solitary 
specimens have from time to time been shot on various parts of 
the coast, and they have occasionally been noticed in considerable 
numbers off the coast of Cornwall. In the Scilly Islands, where 
they are called ‘Hackbolts’, they are said to be yet more frequent. 
The Great Shearwater differs little in habits, as far as they are 
known, from the other species. 
THE MANX SHEARWATER 
PUFFINUS ANGLORUM 
Bill an inch and a half long; tail rounded ; upper plumage brownish black 
lustrous ; under white ; sides of the neck barred with grey ; sides spotted 
with grey. Length fourteen inches. Eggs nearly round; pure white. 
THAT a bird whose generic name is Pufinus should sometimes be 
called a ‘ Puffin’ is not surprising; and the reader who meets 
B.B. x 
