40 BULLETIN 113, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



coast, and congregate about the fishing vessels to pick up the scraps 

 that are thrown overboard. A school of small fry, swimming near 

 the surface, soon attracts an interested throng of these little gulls 

 which hover over them and scream excitedly as they gently swoop 

 down with elevated wings to pick the small fish from the surface 

 without wetting a feather. Although small fishes procured in this 

 way constitute the principal food of the kittiwake, it also eats crus- 

 taceans, aquatic larvse, and other marine animals which it gleans 

 from the water. It feeds to some extent along the beaches and on 

 the bare sand flats at low tide, where it finds various small moUusks, 

 crustaceans, and other marine invertebrates. Often large flocks are 

 seen feeding in the flats. It is less of a scavenger than the larger 

 gulls and less given to frequenting the inner harbors. It is said to 

 drink salt water exclusively, being seldom seen inland. Mr. Brew- 

 ster (1883) reports a captive kittiwake that refused fresh water and 

 drank salt water eagerly. 



Behavior. — The flight of the Idttiwake is buoyant, graceful, and 

 easy. Audubon (1840) describes its movements, in his usual graphic 

 style, as follows: 



Bearing up against tbe heaviest gale, it passes from one trougli of the sea to 

 another as if anxious to rest for an instant under the lee of the billows; yet 

 as these are seen to rear their curling crests, the gull is already several feet 

 above them and preparing to plunge into the next hollow. While in our harbor, 

 and during fine weather, they seemed to play with their companions of other 

 species. Now with a spiral curve they descend toward the water, support 

 themselves by beats of their wings, decline their heads, and pick up a young 

 herring or some bit of garbage, when away they fly, chased perhaps by several 

 others anxious to rob them of the prize. Noon has arrived. High above the 

 masthead of our largest man-of-war the kittiwakes float gracefully in wide 

 circles until all, as if fatigued, sail downward again with common accord 

 toward the transparent deep, and, alighting close to each other, seem to ride 

 safely at anchor. There they now occupy themselves in cleaning and arranging 

 their beautiful plumage. 



It flies more swiftly than the larger gulls and with more rapid 

 wing beats. It can be readily recognized by the flight, even at a 

 long distance, by one who is familiar with it. Dr. Charles W. 

 Townsend writes to me : 



Although the flight of the kittiwake is characteristically graceful, rapid, and 

 swallow like, with quick wing strokes, I have seen them get up from the sur- 

 face of the water just in time to clear the bow of the advancing steamer and 

 fly off with slow and heavy wing beats, as if loath to leave a good fishing 

 ground. In the adult the black wing tips are short and cut squarely across, 

 as if the wings were dipped in black. In the immature plumage it most closely 

 resembles the young Bonaparte's gull, but the black nuchal crescent and the 

 black wing coverts are conspicuous, and there is more black on the primaries, 

 in which the color pattern is also different. 



The ordinary cry of the kittiwake suggests its name, which it seems 

 to pronounce quite distinctly. This is the soft and mellow note 



