2:^4 
Ml!. U. «M1T11 UN THU I'UL.MAU I’KTKEL. 
One day my eldest daugliter showed it a sprat, and it seized and 
swallowed it; hut on two or three occasions only did I observe it 
feeding itself. It vomited up oil on three occasions, and certainly 
attempted to throw it over us. We could see the oil coming up its 
throat, and when it reached the bill, it shook its head and threw 
the oil two feet across tlie place. This is evidently its method of 
defending itself against enemies. Unfortunately it was much 
troubled with cramp in its legs j but, on the 29th of December, 
when I had had it nearly two months, it appeared much stronger, 
and, strange to say, proved itself a murderer, and very nearly 
a cannibal as well, lieceiving a Dittern fBoiaurui< stellaris) from 
the “Broad” district, I put a live Greenfinch ( Cocothraustcs 
c.hloris), with one wing cut, into the garden enclosure, where 
I keep my live birds, to see if it would kill and eat it, as my 
tame Herons fArdea cinerea) do; but, to my surprise, the Bittern 
took no notice of the Greenlinch, allowing it to go quite close 
up to it, and even touch it. But strange to say, the Fulmar seized 
the little bird and killed it, and with its strong bill mutilated, but 
did not eat it. If Fulmars could be kept free from cramp, they 
would live much longer in conlinement ; but Avhen these birds are 
captured, it generally happens that it is stormy at sea, and they are 
put by the fishermen, who have other things to attend to, into :iny 
hamper or box which may be handy, and in this way they got 
cramped and often injured. I consider the Fulmar a harmless 
bird, and a very tame one. Those I have had alive rvere taken 
with the boat’s “ didle,” — a species of landing-net. They come 
so close to the fishing-smacks, as to be easily taken, and 
Avhen taken they do not bite as do the Skuas ( Lcsiris ) and 
Gulls (Larns). My Fulmar never liked being disturbed, and 
preferred to keep to a place of its own choosing. If taken lo 
another part of the enclosure, it at once ran back, and tried to got 
close to the white-washed wall of the greenhouse wherein it 
was kept. It may be the Avail reminded it of its rocky home 
on St. Kilda ! My captive Avas a good hand at climbing : by the 
aid of bill and toes it Avould get on to a hamper, or any slightly 
elevated place. It Avas ahvays delighted to have something to 
])Ock at, such as grass or any soft material. 
So remarkably retentive is the scent of Fulmar oil, that I have 
Ihree spocimenr' Avhieh AA^ere stuffed in 1S79, and to this day they 
