FULMAR PETREL. 641 



scarcely escape it. They are remarkably easy and swift on 

 the wing. They can fly to windward in the highest storms, 

 and rest on the water in great composure, in the most 

 tremendous seas. But it is observed, that in heavy gales 

 they fly extremely low, generally skimming along by the 

 surface of the water. Fulmars are extremely greedy of 

 the fat of the whale. Though few should be seen when a 

 whale is about being captured, yet, as soon as the flensing 

 process commences, they rush in from all quarters, and 

 frequently accumulate to many thousands in number. 

 They then occupy the greasy track of the ship ; and being 

 audaciously greedy, fearlessly advance within a few yards 

 of the men employed in cutting up the whale. It is 

 highly amusing to observe the voracity with which they 

 seize the pieces of fat that fall in their way ; the size and 

 quantity of the pieces they take at a meal ; the curious 

 chuckling noise which in their anxiety for despatch, they 

 always make ; and the jealousy with which they view, and 

 the boldness with which they attack, any of their species 

 that are engaged in devouring the finest morsels. When 

 carrion is scarce, the Fulmars follow the living whale, and 

 sometimes by their peculiar motions, when hovering at the 

 surface of the water, point out to the fisher the position 

 of the animal of which he is in pursuit. They cannot 

 make much impression on the dead whale until some more 

 powerful animal tears away the skin, for this is too tough 

 for them to make way through it." 



In an account published some years since, it is stated, 

 that from twenty thousand to thirty thousand young 

 Fulmars are annually caught on the West Manna Islands 

 to the south of Iceland. 



The Fulmar is found at Spitzbergen, Greenland, and 

 Iceland. Mr. Proctor observed that it was common at 

 Grimsey Island. It is found in the Greenland Seas, at 



VOL. III. T T 



