344 BRITISH BIRDS. 



2-25 to 2'0 inch, and in breadth from 1'68 to 1'5 inch. The eggs of 

 the Kittiwake are not easily confused with those of any other British 

 species. 



As soon as the colony is invaded the birds set up an anxious chorus of 

 cries, and soon the air is filled with birds, mildly protesting against the 

 unwelcome intrusion on their haunt. Many birds remain quietly sitting 

 on their nests in spite of the disturbance, only quitting them as the 

 adventurous climber approaches. When the young are able to fly the 

 nurseries are soon deserted, and the birds lead a more or less nomad life, 

 wandering far to the south in the course of the winter. Of the ruthless 

 slaughter of these charming birds, often when their helpless young are 

 lying in the nests, nothing here need be said, beyond condemning it in the 

 strongest terms. 



The Kittiwake is rather smaller than the Common Gull, and may always 

 be distinguished by the absence of the hind toe. In its general coloration 

 the adult Kittiwake in breeding-plumage bears a considerable resemblance 

 to the Common Gull and to the winter plumage of the Black-headed Gull, 

 but differs in the colour of its primaries, which are French grey, paler 

 towards the broad black tips ; the outer web of the first primary is black, 

 and many of the primaries have a small white tip beyond the black. Bill 

 greenish yellow ; legs and feet brown ; irides hazel, orbits orange. After 

 the autumn moult the crown and ear-coverts are streaked with dark grey, 

 and the hind neck is pale French grey. After the second autumn moult 

 the outer webs of the second and third primaries are more or less black, 

 but not to the same extent as that of the first primary. After the first 

 autumn moult further signs of immaturity are observable in the black bill, 

 the black collar on the hind neck, the great amount of black on the lesser 

 wing-coverts and the innermost secondaries, and in the black bar at the 

 end of the tail. Young in first plumage are further distinguished by 

 having the crown and nape dark grey, and by having brown margins to the 

 feathers of the back. Young in down have the head and underparts white, 

 tinged with buff on the flanks, and the rest of the upper parts pale grey. 



