752 . FULMAR. 
of the older ornithologists, as well as by specimens, it would appear 
that, until recently, the birds found nesting as far north as that 
group had white under-parts, and their young in the first plumage 
resembled them—as I pointed out in ‘ Yarrell,’ vol. iv. p. 5, as long 
ago as 1884; but further north a form with greyish under-parts 
had also been observed, and this phase seems to be making its way 
southward, even to the Scottish islands. In Iceland, where the 
species is very common, the grey race is said to predominate in the 
north, and the same is the case on the western side of Davis Strait 
and Baffin Bay, though at Ovifak in Greenland the light-breasted 
bird nests in myriads ; round Spitsbergen both forms occur, but the 
grey-breasted bird forms a large majority ; one or both phases breed 
on Franz Josef Land; while a Fulmar of some kind was met with by 
Mr. Popham in long. 77° E. in the Kara Sea, as well as by Dr. Nansen 
in long. 130° E., and far to the north of the Lenadelta. Bering Sea 
is inhabited by / vodgerst; and / glupischa, which has a light and 
a dark phase, frequents the North Pacific. In winter the Fulmar 
has been met with about as far south as lat. 43° in European waters, 
and in America it is well known as the “Noddy” on the fishing- 
banks off Massachusetts and Maine. 
The single egg is laid on a ledge or in a slight excavation on the 
grassy shelf of a lofty cliff; its shell—which is roughly granulated 
and has a strong musky smell—is at first pure white, with occa- 
sionally a few minute reddish-brown spots: measurements 2°9 
by 1'9 in. Both sexes incubate, and a low cvoon is sometimes 
uttered. Large numbers of birds are annually taken by the St. 
Kildans, who make use of the clear amber-coloured oil which the 
bird vomits on being seized, and with which it nourishes the young. 
The Fulmar is a constant attendant on whalers, sealers &c.—who 
know it as the “ Mollymawk ”—in order to obtain fatty substances 
and animal offal: but I never saw it take any food while on the 
wing, and it always settles on the water to feed, just as an Albatross 
does. The pinions are often flapped slowly in an owl-like manner, 
but in scudding they are held very straight—a peculiarity by which 
the Fulmar may easily be distinguished from a Gull at a distance. 
The adult has the mantle and tail grey, quills dusky ; head, neck 
and under-parts either white or of varying shades of grey ; front part 
of the bill yellow, sides yellowish-white, nasal tubes olive-colour ; 
legs and feet ash-colour. Length 1g in.; wing 13'25 in. The young 
bird is slightly smaller, and has a darker bill; that part being still 
darker in the grey form. 
