204 
DEscriP- 
TION. 
FULMAR PETREL.  Cuass Il. 
egg; and the young are hatched the middle of 
June. No bird is of such use to the islanders 
as this: the Fulmar supplies them with oil for 
their lamps, down for their beds, a delicacy for 
their tables, a balm for their wounds, and a 
medicine for their distempers. The Fulmar is 
also a certain prognosticator of the change of 
the wind; if it comes to land, no west wind is 
expected for some time ; and the contrary when 
it returns and keeps the sea. 
The whole genus of Petrels have a peculiar 
faculty of spouting from their bills, to a consi- 
derable distance, a large quantity of pure oil ; 
which they do by way of defence, intosthe face 
of any who attempt to take them: so that they 
are, for the sake of this panacea, seized by sur- 
prise; as this oil is subservient to the above- 
mentioned medical uses. Vartin tells us, it 
has been used in London and Edinburgh with 
success, in rheumatic cases. 
The size of this bird is rather superior to 
that of the common gull: the bill very strong, 
much hooked at the end, and of a yellow color. 
The nostrils are composed of two large tubes, 
lodged in one sheath; the head, neck, whole 
under side of the body, and tail, are white; 
the back, and coverts of the wings, ash colored; 
