124 NATURAL HISTORY \Eirds. 



these precipices like a cloud, and fill the air with their cry, 

 which is the word kittiwake often repeated, whence the 

 name. 



The colours of this, as well as the rest, differ much accord- 

 ing to age, sex, and I think season, sometimes spotted and 

 blotched about the wings and head with black ; however, an 

 old bird has the whole body, except the back and wings, 

 white ; the latter gray, the tips of the five first quill feathers 

 black, with a white spot ; the legs dusky, with only three toes ; 

 the back toe wanting, and only a knob in its place. 



These birds are much sought after in many places for eat- 

 ing, and the young are said to be tolerable, but all the gull- 

 kind are wild and fishy tasted. 



Species 8. The Pewit Gull 



Pewit or Black-Cap, Sea-Crow, Mire-Crow, Wil. Orn. 347. Rail Syn. Av. 

 128. Larus ridibundus, Lin. Sys. 225. Brit. Zool. 426. Ore. Hooded- 

 Crow. 



THIS species is pretty frequent with us in spring, and I have 

 seen a few in summer. It is probable they build on the grassy 

 holms in the lochs, such as Stenness, Evie, &c. but I never 

 saw any of these. 



This is easily known from all the rest by its head, bill, and 

 legs ; the head in some is black, in others a dusky brown ; 



