UFE HISTOEIES OF NORTH AMEEICAN PETRELS AND PELICANS. 41 



shores for miles along the southern coast. These kelp beds, however, acting 

 as barriers to drifting Medusae, often entangle a quantity of them, and for 

 the time being fulmars are common near shore. They will also follow the 

 shearwaters which at times drive schools of small fish into the kelp beds. 

 In diving for fish in competition with shearwaters they are badly handicapped ; 

 their plumage being much less compact makes it not only more difficult for 

 them to get under the water but they can not dive so far nor swim so fast 

 below the surface as can the shearwaters. 



Mr. C. B. Linton (1908a) publishes the following short note on 

 the subject: 



During February, 1908, I observed several Pacific fulmars (Fulmarus gla- 

 cialis glupisclw.) , both light and dark phases, about the pleasure wharf at 

 Long Beach, California. These birds were exceedingly tame, swimming about 

 within a few inches of the numerous fish lines and often making a dash for 

 the baited hooks as the fishermen cast them. Upon tossing a handful of fish 

 scraps overboard I was surprised to see the fulmars dive for the sinking pieces, 

 sometimes going two or three feet under water and bouncing almost clear of 

 the suface upon returning. They were also somewhat quarrelsome, fighting 

 fiercely over a fish, uttering a harsh rasping note the while. 



Behavior. — What has been said about the flight and behavior of 

 other fulmars would apply equally well to this subspecies. Cassin 

 (1858), in quoting from Doctor Pickering's journal, says: 



In alighting in the water, these birds take the same care in folding anid 

 adjusting their wings, without wetting them, as the albatrosses. One was ob- 

 served to seize a Thalassidroma violently, and to hold it under water as if 

 for the purpose of drowning it, but whether the attempt succeeded or not was 

 not noticed. On the other hand, the small petrels do not appear to be afraid 

 of this species. 



Mr. Anthony (1895) adds the following notes on the habits of 

 this fulmar off the California coast in winter : 



There are often large schools of small fish on the surface, which attract large 

 numbers of sea birds, including the fulmars, and it is along this bank that 

 fulmars are to be found if anywhere near shore., They are hardly what one 

 would call gregarious, although several are often seen in company flying 

 along in a loose, straggling flock. JVIore often they are seen in flocks of Pufflnus 

 gavia, one or two in a flock of 50 shearwaters. 



Unlike the shearwaters, however, they seldom pass a craft without turning 

 aside to at least make a circuit about it before flying on. If the vessel is a 

 fishing sloop sounding on the banks the chances are in favor of the shearwaters 

 being forgotten and allowed to disappear in the distance while the fulmar 

 settles lightly down on the water within a few yards of the fisherman. The 

 next fulmar that passes will, after having made the regulation circuit, join the 

 first until within a few minutes a flock of six or eight of these most graceful 

 and handsome petrels have collected, dancing about on the waves as light find 

 buoyant as corks. As the lines are hauled up after a successful sound, the 

 long string of often twenty to thirty golden-red fish are seen through the limpid 

 water while still several fathoms in depth, and great excitement prevails. Any 

 fulmars that have grown uneasy and have started out on the periodical circuit 

 of the craft immediately alight a few yards to the windward. Those that are 



