except during the evening and about daybreak, at the latter time always flying in the direction of the island 
as if hastening homewards. I have also, when at sea, engaged in cod-fishing to the westward of the Harris 
Islands, in very gloomy and rainy weather observed a few Fulmars flying about the boat, probably attracted 
by the fish we had caught. At its breeding-places, however, the Fulmar is always in motion, comparatively 
few being to he seen upon the rocks, the great mass being engaged flying in circles along the face of 
the pi-ecipice and always in the same direction, none crossing, probably on account of the confusion this 
would cause among such an Immense multitude. I never heard them utter any cry when thus engaged, not 
even when their nests were being robbed. The Fulmar does not allow itself to be handled with impunity, 
hut defends itself with its powerful bill, which it can use with as much effect as good will.” 
“ Considering the vast number that resort to St. Kilda,” says the elder Macgillivray, “ it is surprising 
that so few are to be seen along the west coast of Scotland ; on the eastern side, however, where there is 
no breeding-place. Individuals often appear in stormy weather in the Moray Frith ; and along the coast 
from St. George to Fraserburgh many continue all the winter, arriving toward the end of autumn and 
departing in spring.” 
From the various statements made by observers it appears that the Fulmar feeds on fishes, cepha- 
lopodous mollusca, cirripedia, and most other kinds of animal substance, especially such as are oily or fatty. 
The Rev. Mr. Scoresby, in his ‘ Arctic Regions,’ states that it is the constant companion of the whale-fisher, 
joining his ship immediately on passing the Shetland Islands, and accompanying it to the highest accessible 
latitudes, keeping an eager watch for any thing thrown overboard. “ Fulmars are extremely greedy of the 
fat of the whale. Though few should be seen when a whale is about to be captured, yet, as soon as the 
flensing process commences they rush in from all quarters, and, frequently accumulate to many thousands 
in number. They then occupy the greasy track of the ship, and, being audaciously greedy, fearlessly advance 
within a few yards of the men employed in cutting up the whale. If, indeed, the fragments of fat do not 
float sufficiently away, they aj)proach so near the scene of operations that they are knocked down with boat- 
hooks in great numbers, and sometimes taken up by the hand. The sea immediately about the ship’s stern 
is occasionally so completely covered with them that a stone can scarcely be thrown overboard without 
striking one. When any thing is thus cast among them, those nearest the spot where it falls take the alarm ; 
and these, exciting fear in others more remote, sometimes put a thousand of them in motion ; but as in 
rising into the air they assist their wings for the first few yards by striking the water with their feet, 
there is produced by such a number of them a loud and most singular splashing. It is highly amusing to 
observe the voracity with which they seize the pieces of fat that fall in in their way; the size and number 
of pieces they take at a meal ; the curious chuckling noise which in their anxiety for despatch they always 
make, and the jealousy with which they view, and the boldness with which they attack, any of their species 
engaged in devouring the finest morsels. They frequently glut themselves so completely that they are 
unable to fly ; in which case, when they are not relieved by a quantity being disgorged, they endeavour to 
get on the nearest piece of ice, where they rest until the advancement of digestion restores their wonted 
powers. Then, if opportunity permit, they return with the same gust to the banquet as before ; and 
though numbers of the species may be killed, and allowed to float about among them, they appear unconscious 
of any danger to themselves.” 
We learn from Mr. Newton’s “ Notes on the Birds of Spitsbergen ” that Dr. Malmgren found the 
Fulmar breeding in thousands on the north side of Brandywine Bay, lat. 80° 24' N., and in smaller 
numbers on the Alkenhorn and also on Bear Island. “The very limited number of the breeding-places of 
the Fulmar,” remarks Mr. Newton, “forms a curious contrast to the extraordinary abundance of the species.” 
A very interesting account of this bird by Capt. Elwes will be found in ‘ The Ibis’ for 1809; but as the 
detads are similar to those already given from the pen of John Macgillivray, I have not considered it 
necessary to make any extracts from it. 
I have observed a considerable variation in the size of the Fulmars that have come under my notice, 
particularly in two which had been captured on the coast of Yorkshire, and were kindly sent me by Mr. 
J. H. Gurney, Jun. One of these was so much darker than the other in colouring that it might almost be 
described as of a uniform deep grey, while the other, a large old male, had the upper surface of a light 
silvery grey and the under surface pure white. 
The figures represent a bird in the usual plumage, and the dark-coloured specimen above mentioned, both 
of the natural size. 
