1891.
Sept. 24
(No 2)
Grand Banks. - 2 P.M. (these are the first
Puffini of any species that I have seen since
leaving Queenstown) so that  I had a good
chance to compare the flight & general
appearance of the two species. Were it not 
for their different coloring it would not
be easy to distinguish them at a distance
for their flight is very similar but the
Fulmar is the stouter, heavier-bodied of
the two and its wings are comparatively 
shorter, narrower, and straighter. They
remind me of a fish's fins. They are
beaten rapidly a few times, then held
perfectly horizontal and very stiffly as
the bird scales. The Fulmar sometimes circles
like a Gull but as a rule its flight
is very direct. The neck looks short, the
head big and round, the bill is carried
pointing well downward. The bird rises
from the water rather awkwardly and
flaps with great energy for 100 or more
yards before it begins scaling. More
than once this morning I saw the crest
of a wave break over a group of Fulmars
which had settled in the steamer's wake
burying several of them out of sight for
a moment but they did not seem to
mind it in the least.
  At about three o'clock a school of a dozen 
or more Black Fish came about us, some
approaching within thirty yards or less. I