GULLS AND TERNS. 35 
at the nesting places. This note, from which the 
colloquial name of the species is derived, resembles 
the syllables £z¢ty-a-ake, requiring but little play 
upon the imagination to render as geta-way-ah-get- 
away. It is only during the breeding season that 
this cry is heard to perfection, and after that is over 
the bird becomes a singularly silent one. The 
flight of this Gull is light and buoyant, but powerful 
and often long sustained. The bird may often 
be observed fishing at no great distance from shore, 
flying to and fro every now and then, poising and 
hovering previous to pouncing down upon a fish or 
other floating object. It is also an adept swimmer, 
and'very frequently sleeps whilst sitting on the waves. 
The Kittiwake is perhaps more exclusively a fish- 
feeder than any other British Gull. It seldom 
searches for food on shore, and does not exhibit 
those omnivorous tastes that characterise so many 
of its congeners. It is a persistent follower of fish 
shoals, especially herrings and sprats, and will 
remain in the company of fishing fleets for weeks 
together. A scrap of food thrown from a ship 
will speedily be seized by one of these birds; 
whilst a few crustaceans and other marine creatures 
are taken from time to time. 
The Kittiwake is a rather late breeder. It most 
probably pairs for life, as the same nesting places 
are resorted to each season. Of all the Gulls 
none breed in more inaccessible situations. The 
nests are almost always built upon a beetling ocean 
