640 LARID^J. 



by two inches in breadth. On the 30th of June, having 

 partially descended a nearly perpendicular precipice six 

 hundred feet in height, the whole face of which was covered 

 with the nests of the Fulmar, I enjoyed an opportunity 

 of watching the habits of this bird, and describe from 

 personal observation. The nests had all been robbed about 

 a month before by the natives, who esteem the eggs of this 

 species above all others. Many of the nests contained 

 each a young bird a day or two old at farthest, thickly 

 covered with long white down. The young birds were very 

 clamorous on being handled, and vomited a quantity of 

 clear oil, with which I sometimes observed the parent birds 

 feeding them by disgorging it. The old birds, on being 

 seized, instantly vomit a quantity of clear amber-coloured 

 oil, which imparts to the whole bird, its nest and young, 

 and even to the rock which it frequents, a peculiar and 

 very disagreeable odour. Fulmar oil is among the most 

 valuable productions of St. Kilda. The best is obtained 

 from the old bird. The Fulmar flies with great buoyancy 

 and considerable rapidity, and when at sea is generally 

 seen skimming along the surface of the waves at a slight 

 elevation, though I never observed one to alight, or pick 

 up anything from the water." 



The Fulmar does not breed on the Islands of Orkney 

 or Shetland, but occasionally visits the latter during winter 

 in stormy weather. 



The Rev. Wm. Scoresby, in his account of the Arctic 

 Regions, has given a long account of this species, part of 

 which is as follows : " The Fulmar is the constant com- 

 panion of the whale-fisher. It joins his ship immediately 

 on passing the Shetland Islands, and accompanies it 

 through the trackless ocean to the highest accessible 

 latitudes. It keeps an eager watch for anything thrown 

 overboard ; the smallest particle of fatty substance can 



