500 LARID-E. 



gions, has given a long account of tliis species, part of Avliicli 

 is as follows: — "The Fulmar is the constant companion of 

 the "whale-fisher. It joins his ship immediately on passing 

 the Shetland Islands, and accompanies it through the track- 

 less ocean to the highest accessible latitudes. It keeps an 

 eager watch for anything thrown overboard ; the smallest 

 particle of fatty substance can scarcely escape it. They are 

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

 windward in the highest storms, and rest on the water in 

 great composure, in the most tremendous seas. But it is 

 observed, that in heavy gales they fly extremely low, gene- 

 rally skimming along by the surface of the water. Fulmars 

 are extremely greedy of the fat of the whale. 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 accumvdate 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. It is 

 highly amusing to observe the voracity with which they seize 

 the pieces of fat that fall in their way ; the size and quantity 

 of the pieces they take at a meal ; the curious chuckling noise 

 which, in their anxiety for despatch, they always make ; and 

 the jealousy with which they view, and the boldness with 

 which they attack any of their species that are engaged in 

 devouring the finest morsels. When carrion is scarce, the 

 Fulmars follow the living whale, and sometimes by their 

 peculiar motions, when hovering at the surface of the water, 

 point out to the fisher the position of the animal of which he 

 is in pursuit. They cannot make much impression on the 

 dead whale, until some more powerful animal tears away the 

 skin, for this is too tough for them to make way through 

 it." 



In a recently-published account of the Faroe Islands, it is 



