FULMARUS GLACIALIS. 



The species apparently frequents both coasts of Greenland, and Colonel Feilden 

 says that it breeds in myriads at Ovif ak, but all the birds seen were of the white-breasted 

 form, a subject which will be treated of later. Many birds followed the "Alert" and the 

 " Discovery " until they entered the Pack Ice off Cape Sabine. Together with Lieut. 

 Parr, on June 26th, Colonel Feilden noticed one of these birds on the coast of Grinnell 

 Land, in Lat. 82° 30' N., the same latitude as that in which Nansen also recorded this 

 Fulmar. A few days later a dead bird was picked up about two miles further north, 

 but the species was not again observed till the ships returned to "Baffin's Bay, in 

 September, 1876, where it was abundant. F. glacialis is met with off the north- 

 east coast of Labrador, and descends in winter to the fishing banks of Maine and 

 Massachusetts, and has also occurred in European waters as far south as Lat. 43°. 



F. glacialis has a light and a dark phase of plumage ; some intermediate examples 

 also occur, while occasionally pure white individuals are met with. The light form 

 is more abundant in the southern area of its range, but in Greenland and the north 

 of Iceland the dark phase is said to be predominant, and breeds in incredibly large 

 numbers. It has been asserted that the dusky birds are immature, but this cannot 

 be the case, since there are two specimens in the British Museum with down still 

 adhering to the feathers : both of these birds have white heads and under sides ; 

 moreover, the dark forms are also found breeding together. 



There is considerable variation in the size of individuals, and the birds from 

 Greenland and the American coast have been separated under the name of F. minor, 

 Kjaerb., but after close examination of a large series, I find no tangible difference in 

 measurement, and agree with Dr. Coues that no ground for separation exists. 



No bird is more thoroughly oceanic in habit than this Fulmar, which lives 

 exclusively at sea, often at a great distance from land, and only visits some desolate 

 rock to rear its young. 



These birds fly with great buoyancy and rapidity, and when at sea are usually seen 

 skimming the surface of the waves ; they are extremely fond of whale-blubber, and 

 though only a few may be in sight when a whale is captured, as soon as the flensing 

 process is commenced, they fly in from all quarters, and follow the track of the ship in 

 such numbers that the sea around the vessel is completely covered with them ; 

 when the fragments do not float away fast enough, they approach so near the scene 

 of operations, that many are killed with boat-hooks, and may even be taken by the 

 hand. These Fulmars glut themselves to such an extent as to be unable to fly, in 

 which case if not relieved by disgorging, they retire to the nearest piece of ice till 

 digestion restores their powers, and enables them to return to the banquet with the 

 same zest as ever. 



Macgillivray, writing in 1852, and Elwes in the " Ibis " of 1869, give excellent 

 accounts of the habits and nesting of this Fulmar in St. Kilda, where it breeds in 

 countless numbers, and plays an important part in the island, forming the chief support 



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