404 PETRELS AND SHEARWATERS 



latter the under parts are greyish. This dark form, curiously, is the 

 more northern type, and is the dominant type in Greenland and the 

 more northern parts of Iceland. It is said, however, to be spreading 

 southwards, even to the Scottish islands. But the dark birds are said 

 to be slightly smaller and to suffer from persecution from their lighter 

 relatives, at any rate when they are the more numerous. 



The natives of St. Kilda depend very largely on the fulmar for 

 their means of support. The adults are caught with a noose for the 

 sake both of the oil they yield and their flesh and feathers. And a 

 heavy toll is levied on the young for a like purpose. The oil is 

 obtained from the adult by placing the bird head-downwards between 

 the knees, then the beak is opened and a tablespoonful or more of 

 clear amber-coloured oil runs out, to be received into a bag formed of 

 the dried gullet of a gannet. The adults are esteemed as food on 

 account of the thick layer of subcutaneous fat, of which the St 

 Kildans are inordinately fond. 



