KITTIWAKE GULL. 479 



prey in a rough sea. I have frequently observed multitudes of 

 these beautiful creatures assembled over a migratory shoal of 

 fish, and been suprised as well as delighted with the quickness of 

 their movements. I remember one clear breezy evening in June, 

 about nine o'clock, seeing an unruly pack of several hundreds 

 congregated in this manner off Ailsa Craig. They had discovered 

 a shoal on the march, and were, at the moment I observed them, 

 in full pursuit just over the brilliant streak thrown aross the sea 

 by the sinking sun. The strong glare upon the water was ex- 

 ceedingly beautiful, and the green waves showed a wonderful 

 transparency as they stood a second or two against the sky; and 

 as each billow, unbroken at the top, rose and rolled onwards, the 

 gulls dashed at it with extraordinary uproar. On this narrow 

 and burnished pathway every bird was distinctly visible; and 

 during the time I kept watch they travelled many miles, keeping 

 up the same excited outcry until they were out of sight. 



On Ailsa Craig itself the Kittiwakes are among the first birds 

 to arrive, and for a day or two during the time of nest-building 

 they are seen tearing up the loose turf the clamour of the birds 

 while at this employment being almost as bewildering as when 

 they are pursuing their prey. Some of the nests, the foundations 

 of which are laid with turf with the loose earth adhering to it, 

 are placed at the upper ledges at the elevation of 500 or 600 feet; 

 while others are quite within reach of the visitor as he passes along 

 the rough road at the foot of the cliffs. In course of time the 

 bottom of the nest, through rain arid spray, becomes trampled into 

 a kind of clay which looks as if the nest had originally been built 

 of mud, and hence the inaccurate report of some observers. While 

 incubating, these gentle birds are tame and confiding, seldom 

 taking wing if fired at or otherwise disturbed ; but should one or 

 two be shot and fall back dead on the nest, the neighbours will 

 then rise on wing and flit about, making pitiable lamentations, and 

 crying all the while Kittawee, Kittawee! Ah, get away, get away! I 

 hope that no true ornithologist or sportsman will find fault with 

 me for saying that to practise this kind of shooting is a shame. On 

 the southern coast of Ayrshire, which, between Girvan and the 

 entrance to Loch Ryan, presents a series of bold rocky headlands, 

 there are many sheltered nooks caused by the wearing down of 

 the softer rocks, and in these coves I have seen great numbers of 

 Kittiwakes dozing on the grey barnacle-covered stones laid bare 



