598 



to furnish a large quantity of fat, which is skimmed off and 

 preserved 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 CAPPED PETREL. 



PROCELLARIA H^ESITATA. 



Crown and upper plumage dusky ; forehead, neck, and under plumage white ; 

 feet dull yellow ; bill and claws black. Length sixteen inches. 



A VERY small number of Capped Petrels have been 

 obtained, of which one was taken in the Australian seas, 

 and others were brought from the West Indies. The only 

 specimen observed in Great Britain was captured by a boy 

 near Swaffham in Norfolk. Of its habits nothing is 

 known. 



