BLACK-FOOTED KITTIWAKE. 519 



tifully supplied with Kittiwakes, the Fern Ishuids and Flam- 

 borough Head being, I believe, the only breeding-places there. 

 On the coasts of Ireland it breeds in great numbers in many 

 localities. 



They generally select the lower parts of the cliffs, from 

 almost the edge of the water to the height of about a hundred 

 feet, the space above being occupied by Auks and Guille- 

 mots. When these birds are not present, however, they 

 occupy a more extended space, and arc not apt to descend so 

 far. The nests, bulky, and formed of grass and sea-weeds, 

 are placed on the shelves and small projections, as well as in 

 crevices and on the walls of caverns ; sometimes, also, on 

 grassy spots. Frequently they are deposited on so narrow 

 a space as to seem stuck against the face of the rock, like 

 those of Swallows. Rowing along the bases of the cliffs, 

 one cannot fail to view with delight these beautiful birds, 

 perched here and there, sometimes in groups, often singly at 

 short intervals, each in a horizontal position, singly seated 

 on its comfortable-looking nest. The individuals not thus 

 occupied fly about incessantly, uttering their loud and clear 

 cries, and often approaching so near as to be easily shot. 

 Over those which fall upon the water many collect and keep 

 hovering and screaming, regardless of danger, so that in a 

 short time one may obtain as many as he can reasonably 

 desire. Human nature is so perverse that reason affords but 

 a feeble check to appetite and impulse, else I should here 

 deprecate the useless slaughter of these innocent birds. 

 Parties are formed on our eastern coast for the sole purpose 

 of shooting them ; and I have seen a person station himself 

 on the top of the Kittiwake cliff of the Isle of May, and 

 shoot incessantly for several hours, without so much as 

 afterwards picking up a single individual of the many killed 

 and maimed birds with which the smooth water w^as strewn 

 beneath. Nay, I have seen one avIio, in his books, admonishes 

 you, with great solemnity, of the sin of shooting birds of any 

 kind unless for some useful purpose, fire away at the poor 

 Kittiwakes with as much glee as a schoolboy at Sparrows. 

 It is, in fact, human nature, tyrannical and most unamiable. 

 The noise of guns docs not always frighten the sitting birds 



