46 Baby Birds at Home 



the growing young ones cannot stir about 

 much until they are able to fly. If they 

 were to attempt to do so they would in all 

 probability fall into the sea far below, and 

 be dashed to death by the rough waves beat- 

 ing against the rocks. 



This gull's nest is made of dry seaweed 

 and bits of dead grass. The eggs number 

 from two to four, of a yellow to buffish-brown 

 colour, thickly spotted and blotched with 

 varying shades of brown. 



Nestling Kittiwakes are covered with 

 down, which is white on the head and under- 

 pays, and buffish coloured on the shoulders 

 and sides. The back is of a greyish tint. 



The principal food of this species con- 

 sists of small fishes that swim near the 

 surface of the sea. 



In olden times people used to eat the flesh 

 of this gull and some of them considered it as 

 good as that of the partridge. 



Quite recently the wings of young Kitti- 

 wakes were in great demand by ladies, who 

 decorated their hats and bonnets with them. 

 It is to be hoped that such a thoughtless 

 practice has quite died out, because it was 

 attended by the most abominable cruelty. 



