PROCELLARIID/E — THE PETRELS — OSSIFRAGA. 365 



of Thalassidromre. Its wings were, like those of an Albatross, long and narrow, and 

 in flying were extended almost in a straight line, at right angles from the body. Its 

 flight was chiefly sailing, which, though long continued, was performed with great 

 rapidity and apparent ease. The bird was called a " Molly-Mawk " by the seamen, 

 some of whom recognized in it an old acquaintance. It was frequently seen 

 alighting and resting on the water. 



Dr. Cooper mentions (" Am. Nat." X. 758) having observed this enormous Petrel 

 — known to whalers as the "Gong" — off the coast, at Monterey, Cal. The whale- 

 fishery had attracted it nearer the land than was usual, and it could be seen swim- 

 ming lazily near the try-works, in order to pick up scraps of blubber. According 

 to his experience, it usually keeps very far from land, as he has never seen any bird 

 answering its description nearer to the Californian coast, though Steller refers to it as 

 having been seen by him in great numbers feeding on a dead whale, two hundred 

 versts from the land off the northwest coast. 



Captain Sperling speaks of the Giant Petrel as not uncommon from the Cape of 

 Good Hope as far south as latitude 27° ; beyond that he saw no more of it. At 

 night, when hovering over the ship, this bird would emit the most diabolical cry — 

 between a croak and a scream — often startling the sailors, who could hardly imagine 

 to what cause these sounds were to be attributed. 



Captain C. C. Abbott mentions finding this species common along the shores of 

 the East Falkland Islands. It was generally seen on the wing, though occasionally it 

 was resting on the water. He was told that it breeds on many of the adjacent islets ; 

 and as a proof of the correctness of the statement, he mentions that the eggs were 

 frequently brought to him. 



This species is included by Mr. G. R. Gray in his list of the birds of New Zealand 

 and of the adjacent islands. 



Captain Hutton (" Ibis," 1865) states that it breeds on the cliffs of Prince Edward's 

 Island and of Kerguelen Island, in localities which are not entirely inaccessible. The 

 nestlings are at first covered with a beautiful long light-gray down ; and when fledged 

 they are dark brown, mottled with white. When a person approaches the nest, the 

 old birds remain a short distance away, while the young ones squirt a horribly smell- 

 ing oil out of their nostrils, to a distance of six or eight feet. This Fulmar is remark- 

 able for its voracity, hovering over the sealers when they are cutting up a seal, and 

 devouring the carcase the moment it is abandoned. This bird was known to the 

 sailors as the " Melly." It will occasionally chase the smaller sea-birds, but it is not 

 known ever to kill them ; and as these are swift on the wing, it is doubtful if they 

 could be overtaken by this bird. Captain Hutton entirely discredits the statements 

 of Lord Macartney, that this species is in the habit of killing other birds, and then 

 only feeding upon the heart and liver of its victims. 



Mr. Layard ("Ibis," 1862) mentions his first meeting with it in the Antarctic Ocean, 

 in latitude 41° S., in company with the Black Albatross — D. fuliginosa. Many of 

 this species took the hook freely, when the vessel was not going through the water. 

 They were all unusually lean, and it was presumed that their breeding-season was 

 already over, and that they were feeding their young birds — or this was the only- 

 way in which their poor condition could be accounted for. 



Mr. Layard afterward (" Ibis," 1867) describes the egg of this species obtained in 

 the Crozette Islands by Captain Armson. It measures 4.25 inches in length by 2.66 

 in breadth, is of a dirty white, and very rough to the touch, remindiug one of 

 the egg of a Crax. In shape it is like that of a common Goose, and is rather 

 pointed at each end. It retains the strong musky odor of the parents, which is called 



