PELICANS, CORMORANTS, AND PETRELS. 261 



at a short distance, a dozen or so together, to wait, and began righting 

 amongst themselves, as if to settle which was to have first bite. 



" The birds gorge themselves with food just like the vultures, and 

 are then unable to fly." 



In the North Atlantic there is a smaller species 

 of these fulmars, known as the Noddy. It is a 

 strictly arctic bird 

 that comes southward 

 as far as New Eng- 

 land in winter. In its 

 general habits it is 

 said to be much the 

 same as the " Break- 

 bones" of the tropic 

 seas. 



The Shearwaters, 

 of which there are 

 several species, are 

 strictly marine birds, 

 their occurrence in- 

 land being so very 

 rare that it has no 

 significance. It is 



well known that a very strong wind and general 

 storm brings many birds not usually seen even near 

 shore, not only to the coast, but sometimes carries 

 them inland for some miles. This, however, is very 

 different from voluntarily leaving the open sea and 

 following the course of some (to the bird) insignifi- 

 cant river. Nuttall says of them, 



" Their course in the air is exceedingly swift and powerful. With 

 their long wings outstretched and almost motionless, they sweep over 



Gannet. 



