The Fulmar. 22 3 



of fowling. The various bird-colonies which tenant the lonely stacks around St. 

 Kilda possess sufficient diversity to delight the eye of the most experienced 

 naturalist ; but the species which will attract attention from the majority of 

 strangers is no other than the Fulmar Petrel. In 1886, and again in 1896, we 

 crossed the Minch from the rocky headlands of Skye, and passing through the 

 Sound of Harris with the earliest morning light, steered across the Atlantic 

 rollers towards the famous rendezvous of the beautiful birds which join the 

 steamer about ten miles off the coast of the Long Island. Fulmars do not 

 usually attach themselves closely to the stern of a vessel, like birds of the 

 Gull family ; but glide along in sweeping circles, flying to and fro the vessel. 

 The flight of the Fulmar is more rapid than that of any species of Larus known 

 to me. Moreover, the Fulmar appears to rise or fall in the air without the least 

 effort. Should the wind stiffen to a half-gale, the Fulmar is not discomforted. 

 One marvels to observe the exact precision with which the Petrel steadies its 

 flight, when returning home in the teeth of the wind. The wings are long in 

 proportion to the size of the bird, enabling a Petrel to leave a vessel far behind 

 in a few moments, and bearing it swiftly over the troughs of the waves. The 

 Fulmar may frequently be seen to stoop towards the sea and dip its feet in the 

 smooth water in the wake of the steamer which it is accompanying. A charming 

 scene is created by the actions of a flock of thirty or forty Fulmars, when these 

 birds have alighted in the hollows of a heaving tideway, and are clustering together 

 in the hope of some scraps being thrown overboard. A good idea of the voi-acity 

 of the Fulmar may be obtained by securing the tail of a herring, or some similar 

 substance, to a line released in the stern of the steamer. The Fulmars, if 

 hungry, will swoop upon the offal with the greediness of a pack of hounds. 

 Moreover, they can strip any but the toughest substances off a hook, if one is 

 provided. Whether observed when curvetting backwards and forwards across the 

 open main, or when swimming on the crest of the long roller, the Fulmar never 

 fails to present an attractive appearance, the snow-white head and breast affording 

 a pretty set-off to the grey mantle. When seen in flight — I have known a 

 Fulmar to fly close alongside of the deck and take a careful investigation of 

 the passengers, though these birds generally keep at a safe distance — this 

 Petrel appears to carry the head drawn in close to the shoulders, while the 

 white tail seems to be rather short in proportion to the alar expanse of the bird; 

 the strongly-hooked beak is easily distinguished at a glance. The wings, when 

 fully extended in flight, show the inner webs of some of the feathers as light- 

 coloured or white patches in the centre of the grey tone of colour which pervades 

 the upper surface of the wings. When at length we weigh anchor in the famous 



