74 LTJNDY ISLAND. 



der sitting-space an object worthy of contention ; for 

 whenever any of the flying squadron attempted to 

 land, and to intrude himself among his resting fellows, 

 he was invariably met with opened wings and beaks, 

 and the most threatening demonstrations of resistance, 

 like Csesar when he landed on our shores from Gaul. 

 But the characteristic bird here was the kittywake, or 

 hacklet, a very small species of gull, with the upper 

 plumage of a delicate French-gray hue, and the lower 

 parts white. They also sat in rows on the narrow 

 shelves, each one with a nest of dried grass beneath 

 it, like so many Turks in a mosque, squatting each 

 upon his own bit of carpet. Their size, form, and 

 colour gave them the closest resemblance to doves, 

 a resemblance which was not a little increased by 

 some traits of their manners. Two sitting next each 

 other would occasionally bring their beaks together 

 in that playful toying manner which every one must 

 have seen our common pigeons practise, and which is 

 so much like kissing, that it is hard to imagine it any 

 other than an expression of affection. It was sug- 

 gested that one was feeding the other, but I am 

 rather disposed to put the former interpretation on 

 the action. The common name of tin's little bird is 

 derived from its cry, "Kittywake, kitty-kittywake;" 

 but the sounds as correctly express the words, " Get 

 away, get away," which we took as a polite intimation 

 on the part of the birds that our morning call was 

 an unseasonable intrusion. We clapped our hands 

 smartly, and the air was instantly filled with birds, 



