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370 



THE TUBE-NOSED SWIMMERS — TTTBINARES. 



11 



and every particle o". fat, are tolerably good eating. He further says that this bird is 

 remarkably liglitand swift on the wing, and that it can tiy to windward in the severest 

 gales, and rest on the water with complete composure in tlie most tremendous seas. 

 In heavy gales it flies cpiito low, skimming over the surface of the water. 



The Fulmar when caught vomits from its mouth nearly a wine-glassful of (jlear 

 yellow oil, with minute green particles floating in it, of which oil the St. Kildians 

 collect large quantities. All the birds taken on their nests were females, and their 

 eyes were not yellow, but black or dark brown. The feathers of the breast were 

 unusually thick and close, and there was a bare hollow place on the stomach of the 

 size and shape of the egg. 



Mr. Wheelwright states that the Fulmar is not seen on the Swedish coast in sum- 

 mer, but that it is occasionally met with there in winter and in the autumn, and 

 never farther south on the Norwegian coast than Trondhjem. It breeds in tht* far 

 north, in the islands off Nordland, and Finland; but Iceland appears to be its 

 principal breeding-place. The female lays but one white egg, said to be three inches 

 in length, and two in breadth. 



Mr. Gillett saw the Fulmar in the waters around Nova Zembla, where it was a 

 constant attendant on ships in the Arctic Sea, and was easily caught with a baited 

 hook. When placed on deck it was quite unable to rise, or even to stand upright, 

 but shuffled along with the help of its wings. It would, as soon as caught, readily 

 eat blubber ; and if thrown overboard would come again t(j the hook without the least 

 hesitation. This bird never settles on the flat ice ; but on one occasion was seen 

 on the sloping side of an iceberg. It was usually either on the wing, or sitting on 

 the water. 



Von Heuglin did not find this species anywhere about on the shores of Nova 

 Zend)la, but on the high sea he saw it everywhere between that island and tlie 

 Norwegian coast. 



]\Ir. K. L. Layard mentions meeting with a single example of this species in the 

 Antarctic Ocean, in latitude 44° S. Afterward, on the IGth of September, when sailing 

 along the southern coast of Tasmania, he again saw a single specimen of this l)ird, 

 which came close under the stern of the vessel, and was several times very nearly 

 taken. 



Dr. Walker mentions that, in the voyage of the " Fox," upon approaching thi' 

 coast of Greenland, the Fulmars fu'st made their appearance, and were thence met. 

 with as far as the Expedition sailed. This species is given by Professor Reinhanlt 

 as one of the resident birds of Greenland. 



These birds were first noticed by Mr. Kundien off Ikdle Isle August 20 ; and from 

 this point northward they increased in numbers, and were seen everywhere, botli 

 close in shore and far out to sea, at all times and in all wtuathers. Tlu^y were very 

 common in Cumberland until the middle of October, and were especially abmi hint 

 off the shore at Cape Chidly, Resolution Island, Griiniell Bav, and Frobisher's Straits. 

 On Blue Mountain, Ovifak, Greenland, they were breeding in myriads to its very 

 summit, at the height of two thousand feet. Their abundance near Cape Searle is 

 also spoken of as something extraordinary, and they were so tame about their nesting- 

 places that they could be killed with a stick. In their greediness they are quite 

 equal to Vultures. This Fulmar possesses extraordinary powers of flight, and is very 

 graceful when on the wing. 



This is given by l")r. Hessels as being one of the species secured by the " Polaris " 

 Expedition, and Captain Feilden (" Ibis," October, 1877) mentions it as being quite 

 common in the north water of Baffin's Pay ; these birds following the ships until tliey 



