248 OUR RARER BIRDS 



when tired on the heaving waves, where it often sleeps as 

 safely as on land. There is something indescribably beautiful 

 about a sleeping Gull at sea. How its shining gray and 

 white body rides buoyantly on the billows, now deep down 

 in the hollows, then high up on the curling, foaming crests ! 

 What confidence the little bird must have in its powers 

 of swimming even in the roughest w^ater, to trust itself to 

 sleep on the ever-tossing surface ! The Kittiwake flies most 

 lightly and buoyantly — rather slowly it is true, but with 

 wonderful power and command over itself. I have seen this 

 pretty little Gull beat to windward in a gale which I have had 

 the greatest difficulty in breasting, and watched it turn and 

 twist, or glide obliquely down to the water's edge with w^onder- 

 ful dexterity and speed. As its food consists principally of 

 fish, the Kittiwake spends most of its time in search of them, 

 flying lightly along a little distance above the water and pounc- 

 ing down every now and then when it sees its prey below. 

 The shoals of fish are foUow^ed by the hungry Kittiw^akes, and 

 never allowed a moment's peace until each bird's appetite is 

 satisfied. The Kittiwake also frequently follows ships to feed 

 on any refuse thrown from them ; and it often takes crusta- 

 ceans and other marine creatures from the w^ater. I do not 

 think that this bird feeds much on shore, although you may 

 sometimes see it on the mudflats. Still it rests but seldom 

 on the beaches and rocks, and when doing so appears never 

 to engage in search for food. Few^ birds are gifted with 

 keener powers of sight, and the moment anything is thrown 

 overboard several birds are sure to visit it, even if they were 

 previously flying a great distance aw\ay. 



The Kittiwake breeds in enormous colonies on most of 

 our sea-cliffs, and from what I have observed of this bird's 

 economy I pronounce it to be a life-paired species. Every 

 year the same nests are tenanted, provided of course that the 

 wintery storms and the nine months' incessant buffeting of 



