410 THE ZOOLOGIST. . 
told us of the status of the Fulmar in northern lands and seas 
prior to the occupation of Faroe, which latter, as will be shown, 
dates to 1838 or 1839. All these writers have spoken of the 
almost universal occupancy of these Arctic regions by the 
species, and they have enlarged upon its extraordinary abund- 
ance. Messrs. Baird, Brewer, and Ridgeway considered that 
Iceland was the most densely populated land of the Fulmars 
when they wrote, and mentioned four stations. These were 
(quoting Faber): Grimsey, within the Arctic Circle, Latrabjarg, 
Krisuvixrberg, and Westmanseyar, where, adds Faber, “ they 
are the commonest of birds.” 
Beyond Iceland and Arctic limits, St. Kilda alone has a 
Fulmar history, which extends back to some two hundred and 
fifty years.* It might, indeed, well be that a differentiation in 
plumage should have evolved between these far-separated 
colonies of Fulmars! Indeed, to some it may appear more 
extraordinary that such has not resulted, even if they had been 
previously continuous and united. But that interesting question 
must now remain, we fear, for ever undiscovered. Is the space 
of two hundred and fifty years sufficient for Nature to achieve 
such changes? Perhaps not; but how much longer may the 
St. Kilda colony have been separated from its nearest kin in 
the Arctic? Is there not in the facts as they stand another 
argument in favour of a pure case of dimorphism in the 
species ? 
We now take up the accounts in chronological order of the 
records. According to Mr. John Wolley’s early account, it would 
appear that the earliest colonies occupied portions of Faroe Isles 
about the year 1838 or 1839, and that the first few pairs were 
seen to breed at the cliffs of Qualboe in Suderoe; then later in 
Skuoe and Great Dimon, at which place John Wolley saw their 
nests in 1849. Even then, or when he wrote in 1850, he ex- 
pressed his surprise at the remarkable change of locality by a 
bird supposed to be so constant in its attachment to certain 
breeding places. This remark of Wolley’s has considerable 
significance when our more recent history of its wanderings is 
considered, as I think will appear still more evidently as we 
proceed. For the present it is enough to direct attention to his 
* Martin Martin, op. ct. 
