FULMAR PETREL. 621 



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 dis- 

 gorging 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. 



Captain 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 



