BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 191 



mandible, which is much curved downwards near 

 the tip. It is of a yellowish colour, with a greenish 

 tinge round the nostrils. Irides dark hrown. Head 

 and the whole of the neck white ; back and wings 

 French grey, except quills, which are darker ; upper 

 tail-coverts and tail-quills French grey ; breast, 

 belly, and under-parts white. Legs, toes, and webs 

 pale grey. Many specimens are of an ash-grey or 

 ash-brown tint all over, somewhat darker on the 

 back and wings. 



The female is similar to the male. 



Situation and Locality. Generally a kind of 

 slight grotto or short burrow, often insufficient to 

 hide the bird, dug by the Fulmar on turf-covered 

 shelves and ledges ; also in crevices of high, in- 

 accessible rocks at St. Kilda, where there is a 

 large colony. The bird has also established itself 

 in the Shetland Islands within the last sixteen 

 years. 



Materials. Dried grass and tufts of sea pink, 

 sometimes nothing at all. 



Egg. One ; white and rough when newly laid, 

 but quickly becoming soiled. Average size about 

 2-9 by 1-98 in. 



Time. May and June. 



Remarks. Eesident, but wandering. Note, 

 Seebohm says it is " a very silent bird," and Mac- 

 gillivray, " I never observed them " (the birds at 

 St. Kilda) " utter any cry when flying, or even 

 when their nests were being robbed." Local and 

 other names : Fulmar, Northern Fulmar, Mallernock, 

 Mallduck, Malmock. Gregarious, and a close sitter. 



