LAKID.t. 



667 



THE KITTIWAKE GULL. 



RiSSA TRIDACTYLA (LilinKUs). 



The Kittiwake — characterized by an obsolete hind-toe — is to be 

 found in British waters throughout the year, resorting in summer to 

 jagged cliffs, where immense numbers may often be found breeding 

 in close proximity. There are colonies on Lundy Lsland off North 

 Devon, the Scilly Islands, Wales, the Isle of Man, Flamborough 

 Head and the Fame Islands ; and, on the east side of Scotland, 

 at the Bass Rock, the Isle of May, aud Dunbuy in Aberdeen- 

 shire ; while in the Orkneys and the Shetlands thousands of birds 

 whiten the precipices. In the west these assemblages are even more 

 numerous, and the ' gullery ' on the Shiant Islands is the most 

 extensive within my knowledge In Ireland, too, this Gull is 

 extremely plentiful on the precipitous portions of the sea-board. 



On the Continent the Kittiwake is not known to nest further 

 south than Brittany, but in winter it ascends the Ciaronne as far 

 as Toulouse, and thence probably proceeds to the Mediterranean, 

 where it is not uncommon ; it also visits the Black and Caspian 



