“= 
492 KITTIWAKE 
remotely, and it is represented by JI. mississippiensis, the Mississippi 
Kite, which is by some considered to be but the northern race of 
IcTINIA. : GAMPSONYX. 
(After Swainson.) 
the Neotropical I. plumbea. Gampsonyx, Rostrhamus, and Cymindis, all 
belonging to the Neotropical Region, complete the series of forms 
that seem to compose the subfamily Milvine, though there may be 
doubt about the last, and some systematists would thereto add the 
Honey-Buzzarps, “ Pernine.” 
KITTIWAKE,! so called from the plaintive cry that is heard 
almost incessantly from its thronged breeding-places, to visit one of 
which is among the greatest delights of the real ornithologist—the 
Larus rissa and L, tridactylus, the Lissa tridactyla of most authors— 
the smallest of the strictly marine GULLS,” and a species that yet 
abounds on many of the northern parts of the British coasts, where 
the rocks afford it a home, for it seems never to breed but on the 
side of a cliff, and there shelf-room is all it needs, though preference 
to a niche that is overhung may sometimes be noticed, and the 
entry of a cave is almost always a favourite spot. Space is here 
wanting to enter into particulars of these resorts, possessing a charm 
almost indescribable ; but notwithstanding that, they were for a 
long while, and, did not the law interpose, again would be scenes of 
sickening slaughter, carried on at first for “sport,” but latterly, and 
far more fatally, to obtain “plumes” for women’s dress. The 
Kittiwake among other distinguishing characters differs from all 
Gulls in that its hind toe (functionless among them) is generally 
reduced to a mere tubercle, and it differs from the other marine 
Gulls in that the young bear for the first year a dark semi-collar at 
the base of the neck, dark patches on the wings and a black tip to 
the tail—markings that make the wearer easily recognizable. In 
this condition they are very generally called Tarrocks. The adults 
on the wing very closely resemble those of the Common Gull, Larus 
canus, but under favourable circumstances can be distinguished by 
? This spelling of the word, which has long been established, seems to have 
been first published by Sibbald in 1684 (Scot. JJlustr. pars 2, lib. iii. p. 26). In 
Ray’s Itinerary of 1671 it appears as ‘“‘Cattiwike” in reference to the Farne 
Islands. It might just as well be written ‘‘ Pick-me-up.” 
* Excepting perhaps Rhodostethia, of whose breeding habits we know nothing. 
