The Fulmars 



Some of the fish burst upon reaching the surface, through the relief 

 of pressure, and upon such hapless floaters the Fulmars fall voraciously. 

 First the eyes and then the entrails are eaten, and the greedy birds will 

 defend themselves with spirit against the envious Herring Gulls, or 

 even for a time against the Short-tailed Albatross himself. Detached 

 bits of flesh are followed to a depth of eighteen inches; but below this 

 depth, even though assisted by half-open wings, the Fulmar's buoyant 

 plumage will not permit it to go. 



Full-fed birds may be easily captured, and when placed on deck are, 

 like most Tube-noses, unable to find sufficient fairway for flight. In 

 this plight they hasten with upraised wings to the rail, and proceed to 

 lighten the ship by disposing of the contents of the stomach. Their 

 actions in such circumstances are so like those of seasick landsmen as to 

 be extremely amusing. The Petrel has, however, a very forgiving — or 

 forgetting — spirit. When assisted over the rail, he will proceed to fill 

 up again as though nothing had happened. 



Of the bird's occurrence in its breeding haunts on the Commander 

 Islands, Stejneger writes: 1 "The 'Glupisch' is one of the commonest sum- 

 mer visitors to the islands, and breeds in enormous numbers in suitable 

 places, that is to say, on high and steep rocky bluffs and promontories 

 boldly rising out of the sea 300 to 800 feet high, and I have spent hours 

 under their rookeries listening to their whinnying voice and watching 

 their high and elegant flight in sailing out and in and around the cracked 

 rocks like bees at an immense bee hive." 



No. 403b Rodger's Fulmar 



A. O. U. No. 86.1. Fulmarus glacialis rodgersi Cassin. 



Synonyms. — Glupisch, etc., as in preceding species. 



Description. — Adult, light phase: Mantle (middle of back and wings) and tip 

 of tail above, coarsely mottled sooty gray and white; wing-quills blackening on exposed 

 tips; remaining plumage pure white. Adult, dark phase, and Immature: Uniform 

 sooty gray, darker and less plumbeous than in foregoing species. Plumage changes 

 imperfectly differentiated. Dimensions as in F. g. glupischa or perhaps a little larger. 



Recognition Marks. — As in preceding species, darker or with mottled mantle. 



Nesting. — Does not breed in California. Nests in colonies. Egg: Single; 

 rough chalky white; laid on rocky ledge. A v. size 73.66 x 50.3 (2.90 x 1.98). Season: 

 c. June 1st. 



General Range. — North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea with adjacent portion 

 of the Arctic. Breeds (at least) upon the Pribilovs and Wrangel and Herald islands; 

 winters south to San Diego. 



Occurrence in California. — A winter visitor along the coast, usually in com- 

 pany with the preceding species. 



1 Bulletin, U. S. Natl. Mus., No. 29, p. 95. 

 1994 



