to the surface during the turn, so that one wing barely misses the 
waves, while the other points skywards. 
Sometimes too, one may see the little ‘“ Mother Careys’ 
chicken.” A tiny sprite sooty-black in colour, and with a white 
rump patch, it often flies so close to the water that it is able to 
patter along the surface with its feet, as it flies. 
The fulmar petrel is indeed a child of the sea, for, except in 
the breeding season, it never comes to land. But at sea you may 
have the good fortune to see it off the east coast of Great Britain, 
and the north and west of Ireland—and in winter off the south and 
west coasts of England. Though in coloration resembling a 
common gull, it may always be distinguished, when on the wing, 
by its narrow wings, curved like a bow—not sharply angled as 
those of a gull, and the primaries are not black-tipped. Its flight 
is strong and powerful: slow wing-beats alternating with long 
glides. On far St. Kilda, in the breeding season, you may find 
them in great hosts. For some unexplained reason they are 
increasing in numbers, and may now also be found breeding in the 
Shetlands, Hebrides, and Orkneys. 
Some who read these pages may, perchance, be stimulated 
by a desire to enlarge their acquaintance with our sea-birds by 
spending a day at sea in a small row-boat. For choice, one of the 
larger breeding-stations should be visited. Horn Head, Donegal ; 
St. Kilda, The Scilly Islands, the Bempton cliffs, Yorkshire ; 
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