I SriTZlJEUGEN AND GREENLAND. 77 



name mallemiicke significth as much as silly gnatts, or mad 

 gnatts. 



They eat so much of the fat of the whales till they spew it 

 •up again, and tumble themselves over and over in the water 

 until they vomit up the train oyl, and then they begin to eat 

 afresh, until they grow weary of eating. They bite one 

 another, and fight together, which is very good sport, about 

 a piece of fat, fiercely, although there is enough for them all 

 and to spare. 



When they are full they rest upon the ice or water. I 

 really believe it is the most devouring bird of all, for he eats 

 till he can stand no longer, but falls down. He bites very 

 hard, but the Burgermeister bites yet harder, to whom he 

 submits himself, and lies down before him to be bit by the 

 Burgermeister, which he does very severely, yet the malle- 

 mucke feels little or nothing of it, his feathers are so thick ; 

 which I conclude because he is not easily shot, but will en- 

 dure a great blow ; nor is it easie to kill him with a stick at 

 one blow. AVhen they steer themselves in the water with 

 their legs, they have continually an eye upon their prey, yet 

 they mind both the man and their prey; but if you have a 

 long stick, they cannot get up so soon or swift but you may 

 have a blow at them. He is the first and commonest bird 

 of all you see in Greenland ; they cry all together, and it 

 sounds afar off as if they were frogs. He walks but ill upon 

 the land and ice, like a child that just learns to go, but he 

 understands better to fly ; you see him always near unto the 

 surface of the water, for he is very light. Of all the birds of 

 prey, I believe, he hath the least meat on him. He builds 

 his nest high on the mountains, yet not so very high as 

 the Burgermeister ; yet it was too high for me, I could not 

 come at them. His breast and legs only are to be eaten ; 

 they are tough and taste strong of train oyl ; when you will 

 eat them you must hang them up by the legs (that the fat of 

 tlie whales, or the train oyl, may run out of them) fur two or 



