FULMAR PETREL. 431 



terranean Sea in the east. On the Asiatic shores of the Pacific it wanders 

 as far south as Japan ; but how far south the Fulmars breeding on Copper 

 Island range appears to be unknown. 



The Pacific Island colonies of the Fulmar are possibly isolated from 

 those in the Atlantic, but birds from Prince Albert Land may mix with 

 both. This comparative isolation has given rise to great variety both 

 in size and colour, but many colonies consist of both large and small, 

 and dark and light birds. On an average, birds from the Pacific Ocean 

 are darker in colour than those from the Atlantic, but the bill is lighter. 

 The Pacific Fulmars of the Kurile and Pribylov Islands also differ in some 

 respects from those breeding on Copper Island, but the points of distinction 

 have not been satisfactorily determined. If they be regarded as subspeci- 

 fically distinct from the Atlantic Fulmars, the former must bear the name 

 of Fulmarus glacialis rodgersi, and the latter that of F. glacialis glupischa ; 

 but it is quite possible that when a large enough series has been compared 

 it may be found that there is only one species of Fulmar, of which there is 

 a dark and light form, as in the Pomarine and Richardson's Skuas, not 

 differing in geographical distribution, and consequently not deserving of 

 being regarded as subspecifically distinct. 



No bird is more thoroughly oceanic in its habits than the Fulmar. It 

 lives exclusively at sea, often at great, distances from land, and only visits 

 some isolated ocean rock to rear its young. It follows in the track of the 

 whalers, even to the limit of open water, to feast upon the scraps of blubber 

 and the oil floating on the sea. It is an almost constant attendant upon 

 the deep-sea fishing-boats, to prey upon the offal that is cast overboard, 

 and is often so eager in its search for food as to allow itself to be caught by 

 the hand. Large pieces of food are eaten whilst the bird sits lightly on 

 the water and tears them to pieces with its strong hook-shaped bill; but 

 small morsels are either eaten at once or carried off to some distance, 

 where they can be quietly devoured. The food of the Fulmar is largely 

 composed of mollusks, cuttle-fish, and any garbage that it may find floating 

 on the water, especially such that is of an oily nature. It also eats large 

 quantities of sorrel; and the blubber of the whale is eagerly sought 

 after. 



The Fulmar has great power of wing ; it flies in a very similar manner 

 to a Gull, and is generally mistaken for one of those birds, which it also 

 closely resembles in the colour of its plumage. Parties of ten to twenty 

 birds may often be seen following in the wake of the Atlantic steamers to 

 pick up any food that may be thrown overboard from time to time. They 

 never seem to tire, but fly backwards and forwards, crossing and recrossing 

 the ship's stern, and often settling down one by one on the surface of the 

 water to feed on anything eatable that they may descry floating on the 



