206 THE COMMON FULMAR. 



employed by the sailor boys for taking them. In the spring of the year, 

 before they have glutted themselves too frequently with the fat of the whale, 

 they may be eaten; and when cleared of the skin, and of every particle of 

 yellow fatty substance lying beneath it, and well soaked in water, they are 

 pretty good, particularly in 'sea pies.' They are remarkably easy and swift 

 on the wing. They can fly to windward in the highest storms, and rest on 

 the water with great composure in the most tremendous seas. But it is 

 observed that, in heavy gales, they fly extremely low, generally skimming 

 along the surface of the water. The Fulmar walks awkwardly, and with 

 the legs so bent that the feet almost touch the belly. When on ice it rests 

 with its body on the surface, and presents its breast to the wind. Like the 

 Duck, it sometimes turns its head backward, and conceals its bill beneath its 

 wing. 



"Fulmars are extremely greedy of the fat of the whale. Though few 

 should be seen when a whale is about being captured, yet, as soon as the 

 flensing process commences, they rush in from all quarters, and frequently 

 accumulate to many thousands in number. They then occupy the greasy 

 track of the ship; and, being audaciously greedy, fearlessly advance within 

 a few yards of the men employed in cutting up the whale. If, indeed, the 

 fragments of fat do not float sufficiently away, they approach so near the 

 scene of operations, that they are knocked down with boat hooks in great 

 numbers, and sometimes taken up by the hand. The sea immediately about 

 the ship's stern is sometimes so completely covered with them, that a stone 

 can scarcely be thrown overboard without striking one of them. When 

 any thing is thus cast among them, those nearest the spot where it falls take 

 the alarm, and these exciting some fear in others more remote, sometimes 

 put a thousand of them in motion; but as, in rising into the air, they assist 

 their wings, for the first few yards, by striking the water with their feet, 

 there is produced by such a number of them, a loud and most singular 

 splashing. It is highly amusing to observe the voracity with which they 

 seize the pieces of fat that fall in their way; the size and quantity of the 

 pieces they take at a meal; the curious chuckling noise which in their anxiety 

 for dispatch they always make; and the jealousy with which they view, and 

 the boldness with which they attack, any of this species that are engaged in 

 devouring the finest morsels. They frequently glut themselves so com- 

 pletely, that they are unable to fly; in which case, when they are not 

 relieved by a quantity being disgorged, they endeavour to get on the nearest 

 piece of ice, where they rest until the advancement of digestion restores 

 their wonted powers. Then, if opportunity admit, they return with the 

 same gust to the banquet as before; and though numbers of the species may 



