The Kittiwake 



THE Kittiwake is the smallest gull found 

 breeding in the British Islands, and this 

 fact, coupled with the dusky colour of its legs 

 and feet, will readily help to distinguish it 

 from any other sea-bird found round our coast. 



It always breeds on ledges and in crevices 

 of sea cliffs, and is never found nesting on the 

 ground like the common gull. 



In St. Kilda, the Shetlands, and on many 

 cliffs round the coast of Ireland, it breeds in 

 countless thousands, and always tells the 

 nature lover its name when he or she comes 

 near its nesting-place, by crying out in a loud 

 penetrating voice two notes that sound like 

 "kitti-wake, kitti-wake, kitti-wake" People who 

 do not know much about birds upon hearing 

 it for the first time think it is someone telling 

 them to " get-away, get-away." 



Ever such a narrow ledge or small corner 

 will, as may be seen from our illustration, 

 serve the little Kittiwake for her nest, but 



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