404 PETREL. 



formed into a bladder to buoy up their leflfer kind of darts, by 

 which they often kill the bird itfelf while fitting at reft on 

 the furface of the water ; for it is very heedlefs, and will fuffer 

 any one to approach it very near : hence is called Mallemucke, 

 or Foolijh Fly, by the Dutch. 



The food of this fpecies is ffi for the moft part; but will 

 eagerly feize every dead thing that can be converted to food ; 

 and filth from the fhips, which they frequently follow. Will 

 fettle by hundreds on the carcafe of a dead Whale, and pick out 

 the fat, which foon becoming liquid in the ftomach, enables the 

 old birds to eject it into the mouths of their young, for their fuf- 

 tenance while in the neft : and alfo on occafions will throw it out 

 with great violence, both from their mouths and noftrils, into the 

 faces of thofe who attempt to feize them, and indeed is almoft 

 the only defence that it makes againft an enemy. 



It is alfo common between Kamtfchatka and America, where we 

 believe it is blended among others, and called by the common 

 name of Glupijha * : they are fo ftupid as frequently to fly 

 into the boats of the natives while fifhing. It is afTerted that 

 they are fo fat that the natives have no more to do than to 

 fqueeze the fkins, through which it runs like oil, and is ufed for 

 the fame purpofes. Numbers are caught on the fourth and fifth 

 Kurilfki JJlands, which the inhabitants dry in the fun, and ufe for 

 food. Is found alfo on the coafts of Greenland f. 



It is alfo fufficiently plentiful in the Antarctic regions, from 

 the Cafe of Good Hope to as far fouth as has been explored > 



* This name arifes from their being foolilh birds. 

 t Phypps's Fay. p. I 86. 



and 



