THE MANX SHEARWATER 305 



The flesh of the Fulmar is also a favourite food with the St. Kildans, 

 who like it all the better on account of its oily nature. 



The Fulmar is essentially a sea-bird, and never comes to land 

 except in the breeding season, when it builds its nest of herbage on 

 the grassy shelves of the highest cliffs, and lays a single egg, if 

 which be taken, it lays no more. The young birds are fed with 

 oil by the parents, and on being molested spurt out through the 

 throat and open mouth the same fluid, which, being of a rank 

 smell, infects not only the nest, but the whole neighbourhood. The 

 young birds, which are taken early in August, are boiled, and made 

 to furnish a large quantity of fat, which is skimmed off and pre- 

 served for winter use. The old birds are considered great dainties. 



In the Arctic regions the Fulmar is well known for its assiduity 

 in attending on whale ships, keeping an eager watch for anything 

 thrown over ; and when the operation of cutting up a whale is 

 going on, helping itself most greedily to stray pieces of offal, and 

 venturing so near as to be easily knocked down by a boathook or 

 to be taken by hand. 



Owing to the rankness of its food, the smell of the Fulmar is 

 very offensive. A specimen recently shot was brought to me in 

 Norfolk, early in January, 1862, and being a great rarity, was 

 carefully preserved and set up ; but on being sent home from the 

 bird-stuffer's it was banished to an outhouse, where it has remained 

 for three months without losing anything of its offensive odour. 



THE GREAT SHEARWATER 



PUFFINUS MAJOR 



Bill two inches long ; tail pointed ; upper plumage dusky ; under, deep ash 



grey. Length eighteen inches. 



The Great Shearwater is far less abundant than the preceding 

 species, and may indeed be considered a rarity. A few solitary 

 specimens have from time to time been shot on various parts of 

 the coast, and they have occasionally been noticed in considerable 

 numbers off the coast of Cornwall. In the Scilly Islands, where 

 they are called ' Hackbolts ', they are said to be yet more frequent. 

 The Great Shearwater differs little in habits, as far as they are 

 known, from the other species. 



THE MANX SHEARWATER 



PUFFINUS ANGLORUM 



Bill an inch and a half long ; tail rounded ; upper plumage brownish black 

 lustrous ; under white ; sides of the neck barred with grey ; sides spotted 

 with grey. Length fourteen inches. Eggs nearly round ; pure white. 



That a bird whose generic name is Puffinus should sometimes be 

 called a ' Puffin ' is not surprising ; and the reader who meets 

 B.B. X 



