ALLKN'S naturalist’s LIBRARY. 
is(j 
‘he line of their long outstretched wings 
equently brought for a moment at right angles to the surface 
f iv! 7 '■ 1 "’^“‘her they disappear ; but half 
a gale of wind does not appear to interfere with their move- 
ments in the least, except that their wings are more actively 
employed, though even then they continually skim along with 
outspread motionless wings over the surface of the waves 
bonding over their crests, and descending into the hollows’ 
It is not to be supposed that the same individuals follow the 
s ip across the Atlantic. On some days the number is very 
dmppears^”^^'"^ greater, and generally at sunset every bird 
interesting account of the habits of the Fulmar 
on S kilda have been written by Mr. C. Dixon Most of 
the cliffs are broken, and all are more or less studded with 
grassy slopes, on most of which sheep graze in comparative 
safety. In many places, although the cliff is very precipitous, 
1 IS covered with grass, sorrel, and other plants, and a loose 
rich soil. It IS in such spots that the Fulmar breeds in the 
greatest nuinbers. I shall never forget the imposing effect of 
this noble bird-nursery. Just before I reached one of the 
shoulders of Connacher, a few Fulmars were to be seen sailing 
m graceful flight above the cliff, then dropping down again 
into space. When I reached the summit the scene was grand 
tens of thousands of Fulmars were flying silently about in all 
directions, but never by any chance soaring over the land • 
they passed backwards and forwards along the face of the cliff 
and for some considerable distance out to sea, whilst the waves 
a thousand feet below were dotted thickly with floating birds. 
The si/ef/ce of such an animated scene impressed me ; not a 
single Fulmar uttered a cry, but lower down the cliffs Kitti- 
wakes were noisy enough. No bird flies more gracefully than 
the bulmar j it seems to float in the air without any exertion, 
often passing to and fro for minutes together with no percep- 
tible movement of its wings; and I repeatedly saw a bird, 
head to wind, quite motionless for several seconds, the stiff 
breeze ruffling a few of its scapulars and neck-feathers. It is 
a remarkably tame bird, fluttering along within a few feet of 
eye glistening sharply against its snow-white 
dress. Sometimes I saw it hover like a Kestrel, or turn round 
