304 THE FULMAR PETREL 



contained air only, we could but conclude that our apparition had 

 taken refuge in a hole under the bank. 



Early in spring, when Dabchicks leave the small streams and 

 watercourses for broader pieces of water, they have been observed 

 to fly ; and during the building season also they have been seen 

 circling round in the air near the locality of their intended nest. 

 The nest itself is constructed of weeds of all kinds, forming a thick 

 mass raised but a few inches above the surface of the water, and 

 invariably far enough from the bank to be inaccessible except by 

 wading. The Dabchick lays five or six long-shaped eggs, pointed 

 at either end, of a chalky white colour. These the bird, when 

 she leaves the nest, covers with weeds for the purpose of conceal- 

 ment, and on her return continues the work of incubation without 

 removing the covering, so that the eggs soon lose their white hue, 

 and before the period of hatching have become very dirty. The 

 young birds can swim and dive immediately on leaving the egg.' 

 I have never myself seen a Dabchick fly through the air or walk 

 on land, neither have I ever heard its note. The latter, a low 

 clicking and chattering sort of noise, it is said to utter in spring. 

 It breeds even in St. James' Park. Females smaller than males. 



ORDER TUBINARES 

 FAMILY PROCELLARIID/E 



THE FULMAR PETREL 



PROCELLARIA GLACIALIS 



Head, neck, under plumage, and tail, white ; wings bluish, ash, the primaries 

 brownish grey ; beak, irides, and feet, yellow. Young of the year grey 

 tinged with brown, mottled on the back with deeper brown ; bOl and feet 

 yellowish ash. Length nineteen inches. Eggs white. 



In some of the Outer Hebrides Fulmars breed ; but the great station- 

 to which tens of thousands annually resort, is the remote island 

 of St. KUda. To the Fulmar indeed, and in a less degree to the 

 Gannet and two or three other sea-birds, the island is indebted for 

 its being able to boast of human inhabitants. Eggs and birds, 

 fresh or salted, furnish them with food ; the Fulmar with oil : 

 and feathers pay their rent. In the Shetlands it is said to be increas- 

 ing. 



Professor James Wilson says : ' The oU is extracted from both 

 the young and old birds, which, however, they must seize on sud- 

 denly and strangle, else, as a defensive movement, the desired (and 

 pungent) oil is immediately squirted in the face and eyes of their 

 opponent.' This oil is ejected, not, as it is sometimes said, through 

 tubular nostrils, but directly through the throat and open mouth. 



