Observations on the Biochemistry of “Mutton Bird” Oil

Abstract

MANY seabirds, especially those of the petrel family, express their annoyance at the approach of an intruder by ejecting the contents of their stomach. This material is usually of an oily nature and in several different parts of the world advantage has been taken of this to obtain an oil that can be put to various uses. Thus the inhabitants of St Kilda collect the oil of the fulmar petrel and on the coasts of Tasmania and New Zealand a "stomach" oil is obtained from birds of the same family.