192 



BIHI) OAM.EHY. 



MODEL OP PART OF A CLIPP OP THE 

 BASS ROCK. 



Tlic Bass Rock is one of tlie most celebrated breecling-stations on 

 the east coast of Scotland, and every spring conntlcss numbers of sea- 

 birds resort ther(> for tlic purpose of nesting;-. It rises some 420 feet 

 above the level of the sea^ and tlic accompanying photographs give 

 some idea of the biid-life which covers the ledges of this rock. The 

 part reproduced accurately represents two shelves situated liigli up on 

 the precipitous face of the rock, on which the three following species 

 of sea-birds were breeding, socially, and in close proximity to one 

 another. 



No. 148. KITTIWAKE. (Rissa tridactyla.) 



Throughout the winter mouths this Gull is generallv distributed 

 along the coasts of the British Islands, but in summer it resorts in \ast 

 numbers to rugged clifl's for the jiurposc of nesting. Large breeding- 

 colonies are to be found on the Fame Islands, Flamborough Head, 

 the Scilly Islands, Lundy Island, and round the coasts and islands 

 of Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. The nest, usually formed of seaweed 

 and lined with grass, is placed on a ledge of rock and contains two or 

 three pale buff eggs, spotted with reddish-brown and ash-grey. 



The trivial name " Kittiwakc " is derived from its note. 



No. 149. GANNET or SOLAN GOOSE. (Suhi bassana.) 



During the autumn and winter months the Ganuct is found tiirough- 

 out British waters, but in spring it repairs in countless numbers to 

 some isolated rock to breed. The most noted breeding-colonies are at 

 Lundy Island, Grasshohu, oft Pembrokeshire, Ailsa Craig, Sulisgeir, oft' 

 the Butt of Lewis, Boreray in the St. Kilda group, and the Bass Rock 

 in Ireland it breeds on the Bull Rock uff Co. Cork and on the Little 

 Skellig. It feeds on fish, which arc obtained by plunging, often from 

 a great height. The nest of seaweed and grass contains only one egg, 

 which is pale blue overlaid with a chalky-white coating. The young- 

 arc naked when hatched, but soon become covered with wiiite down, 

 which ill a few weeks gives place to dark feathers tipped with white. 

 The mature plumage is not assumed till the fifth year. 



