36 BULLETIN 121, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



astonishing greediness. It devours large quantities of codflsli liver in a raven- 

 ous manner that would astound one unacquainted with its habits, and it cer- 

 tainly would tax their credulity to believe statements that might be made 

 bearing on this subject. 



Behavior. — The flight of the fulmar is a much more graceful per- 

 formance than one would expect from such a short, heavily built 

 bird and it is a pleasure to watch this miniature albatross, which 

 to my mind it closely resembles, as it circles about in the wake of 

 the ship, quartering the ground in search of what morsels it may 

 pick up, with frequent periods of rapid wing beats alternating with 

 longer periods of sailing on stiff pinions. Macgillivray (1852) saysr 



The fulmar flies with great buoyancy and considerable rapidity, and when 

 at sea is generally seen skimming along the surface of the wave at a slight 

 elevation, though I never observed, one to alight or pick up anything from the 

 water. At its breeding places, the fulmar is always in njotion, comparatively 

 few being to be seen upon the rocks, the great mass being engaged flying in 

 circles along the face of the precipice, and always in the same direction,, none 

 crossing, probably on account of the confusion this would cause among such 

 an immense multitude. 



Mr. John Treadwell Nichols writes to me, regarding the appear- 

 ance of this species in flight as follows : 



On the wing the fulmar is a stocky appearing bird, its dark-primaried, gull- 

 like plumage, relieved by an obscure pale spot back of the tip of the wing, 

 suggesting the better marked, diagnostic, pale area in the wing of PHocella. 

 They flap their wings a great deal, interspersing frequent short saUs, and their 

 flight has the stiflE character usually characteristic of the Tubmares, as op- 

 posed to the buoyant flight of the Longipermeg. 



The fulmar is usually a silent bird, but, when feeding, Morris 

 (1903) says: 



The noise that a large flock make Is described as almost deafening, something 

 between the cackle of a hen and the quack of a duck. 



Captain Collins (1899) refers to its note as " a sort of chuckling 

 sound somewhat resembling a low grunt." 



The St. Kildians consider the fulmars of great importance in the 

 economy of their lives, for both old and young birds, as well as the 

 eggs, are largely used for food. They regularly risk their lives 

 in going over the cliffs on long ropes and are quite expert in catch- 

 ing the old birds and gathering the eggs and young. Macgillivray 

 (1852) gives a good account of their methods and says: 



Fulmar oil is among the most valuable productions of St Kilfla and is 

 ^'TT!? K* ^^^ '"°''' "^ ^'^^^'"'^ processes. The best is obtained from the 

 Old bii^ by surprising it at night upon the rock, and tightly closing the bill 

 until the fowler has secured the bird between his knees, with its head down- 

 wards. By opening the bill the fulmar is allowed to disgorge about a table- 

 spoonful, or rather more, of oil Into the dried gullet and stomach of a so'ln 

 goose, used as a reservoir for that purpose. These, when filled, are secured 



