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THE FULMAR PETREL. 



Procellabia glacjalis, Linn. 



PLATE CCLXIV. Male. 



Though not a large bird, the Fulmar is possessed of considerable 

 strength, and has a powerful and sustained flight. In autumn and win- 

 ter it is seen on our eastern coasts, from which it retires early in summer, 

 to betake itself to the northern retreats in which it rears its young. I 

 have never seen it farther south than Long Island, but I have often found 

 it on the banks of Newfoundland, and in the space intervening between 

 them and our shores. From the beginning of September to that of May 

 it may be said to be pretty common, especially around the banks, to which 

 the cod-fishers resort, and where it feeds chiefly on the rejected garbage. 



One calm day in August, when on a voyage from England to New York, 

 of which I have already spoken when describing the Forked-tailed Petrel, 

 I procured several Fulmars. They came up and alighted near the boat, 

 whenever we threw any thing overboard, and did not seem to be in the 

 least alarmed by the report of a gun. In one instance I shot one on the 

 water, when it was so near that I could distinctly see the colour of its eye. 

 A great number of them were swimming in small detached flocks of eight 

 or ten, their colour at a distance appearing as if pure white, and con- 

 trasting beautifully with the dark blue of the sea. They floated very 

 buoyantly, some swimming about with great ease, others to appearance 

 sound asleep. Most of them had the wing and tail feathers ragged, and 

 some were much soiled with greasy matter, which gave them an unplea- 

 sant appearance. Those which were caught, on being wounded, emitted 

 quantities of oily matter by their nostrils, and disgorged much of the 

 same substance ; but did not attempt to bite, which seemed strange in 

 birds having the bill so powerful and hooked. They fly with less grace 

 than the Shearwaters, proceeding in a direct line, and at a small height, 

 towards the objects on which they feed. 



I was much disappointed at not finding the Fulmar along the rocky 

 shores of Labrador, where I had expected to meet with it, as it is regu- 

 larly observed in spring moving northward in files opposite the entrance 

 of the Straits of Belle Isle. Its passage towards the Arctic Regions has 



