XXIII 



KITTIWAKE 



F all the birds which breed on cliffs, the Kittiwake 

 is one of the most difficult to get to, and on 

 several occasions, when photographing these birds, 

 I have had to have a stout rope to assist me. 

 The very smallest piece of jutting rock seems 

 quite large enough for these birds to build their nest upon, and 

 in consequence, when the young are hatched, many tumble out of 

 their homes and rolling over and over find themselves in the 

 waves. Few of these unfortunate youngsters escape the Gulls 

 which are constantly hovering around, and I have seen those 

 scavengers of the sea swoop down and carry the young birds 

 away. 



I remember seeing a flock of birds chasing a Greater Black- 

 backed Gull, and on looking at them through my field-glass I 

 saw that the large marauder was holding a young bird in his 

 beak ; it was dangling head downwards, being carried by one 

 foot, and the parents and many others were following with angry 

 and vicious cries. The large Gull, however, took very little notice, 

 and presently settled on the water, and I saw him tearing his 

 prey to pieces, while the agonised parents could do nothing but 

 fly round and round the enemy's head. 



The Kittiwake is a faithful and loving mother, and looks well 

 after her young, and sometimes when I have been descending a 



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