1891.
Sept. 24
Grand Banks. - Clear with a strong N.W. wind
and rugged sea, both wind and sea moderating 
as the day wore on. Cool but not cold.
  All day long great numbers of Fulmars were
constantly in sight. Through the forenoon
they were mostly assembled over our wake
following the steamer much in the manner
of Gulls. At least two hundred were in sight
at one time, strung out in long train, the
nearest just under our stern, the most
distant half a mile or more behind us. When
anything eatable was thrown overboard they
hurried eagerly to the spot and alighted
in a compact flock, some walking about
with spread wings like Petrels, others swimming
with closed wings and plunging their heads
under. I did not see any of them dive.
There were a few dark birds among them
(not over 5%) with slaty-gray or brownish
backs and wings and buffy or fawn colored
under parts. These I took to belong to
the dark phase. I give the coloring merely
as it appeared in strong sunlight.
  During the afternoon there were few Fulmars
following our wake but in every direction
as far as the eye could reach the
surface of the ocean was simply alive
with them, the majority scaling about
close over the waves, but a few sitting
on the water. A few Greater Shearwaters
were scattered about among them after