22 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



nesting not always on the ground like most gulls, but on rocky cliffs 

 overhanging water. On Gannet Rocks of the St. Lawrence this noisy 

 Gull is especially numerous, where its nests are found on narrow 

 ledges ; they are composed of grass and seaweed. Some of the nests 

 are quite flat, while others are several inches in thickness and deeply 

 hollowed, new material being added each year, and they are sometimes 

 so numerous that the breeding places become very filthy and emit an 

 intolerable odor. 



The eggs are two and sometimes three in number, and have a 

 ground-color of yellowish buff, brownish-gray or pale greenish-gray, 

 marked with irregular spots of varying shades of brown and lilac. The 

 average size is 2.26 x 1.61. 



40a. Rissa tridactyla pollicaris Ridgw. [658a:.] 



Pacific Kittixvake. 



Hab. Coasts of North Pacific and Bering Sea. 



This form of the Kittiwake is abundant on the islands of the 

 North Pacific. Dr. lyconhard Stejneger records it as a common breed- 

 ing bird, both on the islands and along the Kamtschatkan coast, and 

 in all places suitable for rookeries they are found in astonishing num- 

 bers. For the purpose of nesting they select the shelves and projec- 

 tions of cliffs, the tops of walls that rise perpendicularly out of the 

 deep sea, and especially on the high pinnacles standing lonely amidst 

 the foaming breakers. The nesting is precisely the same as that of R. 

 tridactyla^ and the eggs are indistinguishable, except that in a large 

 series they are said to be more uniform in their markings. 



41. Rissa brevirostrls (Bruch.) [659.] 



Red-legged Kitti-wake, 



Hab. Coasts and islands of Bering Sea. 



The living bird of this species has coral-red legs and feet, which 

 contrast richly with the snowy white plumage of the head, neck and 

 under parts. An abundant species on the islands of Bering Sea. On 

 the Prybilof group it swarms by tens of thousands to breed in the first 

 part of May. It is especially abundant on St. George's and St. Paul's 

 Islands. 



The nests, like those of the Pacific Kittiwake, are placed on almost 

 inaccessible shelves and projections, so that seldom is a nest reached 

 unless a person is lowered down to it on a rope passed over the cliff. 

 Dry grass and moss cemented with mud are the materials which con- 

 stitute the nests. 



The Red-legged Kittiwake is common on the islands along the 



