KITTIWAKE. 109 



position of the legs. They feed on sea productions fish, 

 shrimps, and other Crustacea, and the like. 



The note of this Gull is considered to be expressed by its 

 name, and is very often uttered. All the sea-birds' cries are 

 in themselves harsh and discordant, but no doubt they sound 

 'most sweet voices' in one another's ears, as much so as those 

 of the Nightingale or the Thrush are supposed by us to do 

 to those of their own kinds. 



The Kittiwake lays its eggs upon or in any small ledge 

 or cleft on the side of a steep and rocky cliff by the sea. 

 These are often so narrow and apparently insecure, that Selby 

 says the young seem instinctively aware of their perilous 

 situation, whence sometimes the least movement would pre- 

 cipitate them into the waves beneath, and are observed seldom 

 to change their attitude in the nest till sufficiently fledged 

 to be able to provide for their own safety. 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. 



Male; weight, about fourteen ounces; length, one foot two 

 to one foot three inches and a half or even four inches; bill, 

 pale yellow, greenish yellow at the tip, the upper mandible 

 rather arched, the inside of the mouth reddish orange colour. 

 Iris, dark dusky brown, the edges of the eyelids reddish 

 orange; head on the sides, crown, neck, and nape, white; in 

 winter the sides around the eye and the back of the head 

 are streaked with dark grey, the nape with bluish or blackish 

 grey. Chin, throat, and breast, white; back, pale bluish grey. 



The wings reach in extent from three feet two to three 

 feet four inches; greater and lesser wing coverts, pale bluish 

 grey. Of the primaries, the first has the whole of the outer 

 margin black, the second with the end and the greater part 

 of the outer web the same, the third with its end and still 



