Notices of New Books. 3021 



the water, except during calm and moderate weather, and then but 

 rarely. They are very bold, flying close to the side of the ship, al- 

 most within reach of the hand. I have more than once been startled 

 in the evenings, by one flitting close past my face, with noiseless wing, 

 like some gigantic moth. 



" At the beginning of the season, before they are gorged with blubber, 

 and their flesh has become rank and oily, they are occasionally killed 

 for food, and taste not unlike an ill-fed chicken. They are constantly 

 on the look out, keeping a vigilant eye on the wake of the vessel for 

 anything that may be thrown overboard. They are sometimes, too, 

 like the albatross, caught by a baited hook ; but generally, the Davis 

 Strait's sailor has a kindly feeling for the harmless 8 Mollys ;'* and 

 many a reproof, strengthened generally by a not very gentle oath, have 

 I heard the ' green Orkney boys ' get for molesting them during 

 4 flensing ' or ' making off.' For it is then that they can be best seen, 

 and their habits particularly noted. Though, previously, but a very 

 few may be in sight, immediately upon a ' fish ' being struck, they 

 begin to assemble, and are soon seen hovering over the ' fast-boats ' 

 in countless flocks, and alighting to feed upon the broad pellicle of 

 oil and blood, which forms a wake after the wounded whale. During 

 i flensing,' their boldness and impudence are often very amusing. I 

 have seen them get on the fish, and tear at the blubber, even amongst 

 the men's long knives, and under their very feet : and more than once, 

 I have seen one which was roughly laid hold of, and pitched out of 

 the way, with a hearty shake, coolly return again to his repast. 

 During ' making-off,' or the process of finally packing the blubber 

 into the casks, when all the refuse parts, or ' krang ' are cut off and 

 thrown overboard, they are seen sitting in the water, in all directions, 

 tearing at the floating pieces. They are exceedingly pugnacious, and 

 are constantly driving one another away from any piece that may ap- 

 pear more tempting than another. The noise they make at such times 

 is sometimes almost deafening, and exactly resembles that of poultry, 

 something between the cackle of the hen and the quack of the duck, 

 whilst the 'ploutering' in the water adds to the hubbub. Hovering 

 overhead, but never deigning to soil its snowy plumage in the greasy 

 water, an ivory gull {Larus eburneus), may occasionally be seen, 

 stooping down to a piece of ' krang,' which none of the fulmars may 



* " The sailors Lave a strange saying that the ' Mollys ' are animated by the 

 spirits of ' Old Greenland Skippers ;' I suppose the fondness of both for blubber has 

 led Jack to think this." 



