432 F U L M A R. Clafs II. 



to take them : * fo that they are, for the fake of this 

 fanaccea, feized by furprize ; as this oil is fubfervient 

 to the above-mentioned medical ufes. Martin tells 

 us, it has been ufed in London and Edenburgb with fuc- 

 cefs, in Rheumatic cafes. 

 Defer. The fizeof this bird is rather fuperior to that of the 

 common gull : the bill very ftrong, much hooked at 

 the end, and of a yellow color. The noftrils are 

 compofed of two large tubes, lodged in one 

 fheath: the head, neck, whole under fide of the 

 body, and tail, are white ; the back, and coverts 

 of the wings aili-colored : the quil- feathers dusky : 

 the legs yellowifh. In lieu of a back toe, it has only 

 a fort of fpur, or fharp ftrait nail. Thefe birds feed 

 on the blubber or fat of whales, &c. which, being 

 foon convertible into oil, fupplies them conftantly 

 with means of defence, as well as provifion for their 

 young, which they c aft up into their mouths. They 

 are likewife faid to feed on forrel, which they ufe to 

 qualify the unflious diet they live on. 



Frederick Martens^ who had opportunity of feeing 

 vaft numbers of thefe birds at Spiizfrergen, obferves, 

 that they are very bold, and refort after the whale 

 fifhers in great flocks, and that when a whale is 

 taken, will, in fpite of all endeavours, light on it and 

 pick out large lumps of fat, even when the animal is 

 alive. That the whales are often difcovered at fea 



* In the General Advertifer, for June, 1 761, is the following re- 

 markable account from the IJle of Mull. A gentleman of the name 

 of Campbell, being fowling among the rocks, and having mounted 

 a ladder to take fome birds out of their holes ; was fo furprized, by 

 one of this fpecies fpurting a quantity of ovl in his face, that he 

 quitted his hold, fell down, and perilhed. 



by 



