§94 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 
Iam sure I might truthfully apply this description 
to the number of Kittiwakes to be seen over forty or 
fifty acres of sea, except that they are not absorbed 
as the snow would be; but the same birds are con- 
tinually reappearing, rising and falling nearly over 
the same place, then flitting along for a little way, 
then stopping to hover over a fish that appears to 
come near enough to the surface for a dash; occa- 
sionally disappearing under the surface for a few 
moments, when they make a dash,—not indeed the 
magnificent and rapid dash of the Gannet, but yet 
with sufficient force to carry them entirely beneath 
the surface,—and occasionally just dropping down to 
pick up a fish that has been wounded in some way, 
probably by a dog-fish, and again rising to the 
surface. Many other birds take part in these attacks 
on the poor sprats and herrings, but, as I have before 
stated, most of them shear off on the approach of a 
boat, except the Kittiwakes and a few Razorbills and 
Guillemots. 
The Kittiwake is not nearly so omnivorous as 
most of the other Gulls, confining itself almost 
entirely to a diet of fresh fish; consequently it is 
not so often found searching tidal rivers and har- 
bours for miscellaneous scraps, but is generally 
employed in fishing further out than most of the 
other Gulls. 
The Kittiwake does not, like the Blackheaded 
Gull, seek flat swampy places for its nest, but rather 
