148 



KITTIWAKE. 



TARROCK, (YOUNG.) 

 PLATE CCXXIII. FIGURES II AND III. 



Lams tridactylus, LATHAM. 



" rissa, LINNAEUS. 



Hissa runnichii, STEPHENS. 



THE Kittiwake lays its eggs upon any small ledge on the side of 

 a steep and rocky cliff by the sea. Immense numbers of these birds 

 build together, so much so as completely to whiten the places where 

 they assemble for the purpose, and to give them the appearance of 

 being covered with snow. 



The nest is a mixture of grass and other dry herbage with sea- weed. 



The time for laying is the latter end of May, or the beginning of 

 June. 



The eggs are usually two, but occasionally, though very rarely, 

 three in number. They differ much in their colouring and markings; 

 the prevailing tint is stone-colour with a tinge of olive, much spotted 

 with grey and brown of two shades; or greyish white faintly tinged 

 with brown, and blotted with dark brown and purple grey. 



