446 



Note. The tips of the longest primaries extend fully 

 2*5 in. beyond the end of the tail, while those of L. 

 glaucus only reach to the end of the tail-feathers, or, at 

 the most, about half an inch beyond the tail. 



KITTIWAKE GULL. Bissa tridactyla (Linnaeus). 



Coloured Figures. Gould, 'Birds of Great Britain,' vol. v, pi. 

 61; Dresser, 'Birds of Europe,' vol. viii, pis. 607, 608; 

 Lilford, ' Coloured Figures,' vol. vi, pi. 29 ; Booth, ' Bough 

 Notes,' vol. iii, pi. 39. 



This attractive Gull is familiar to those who have 

 opportunities of visiting the precipitous cliffs of mainlands 

 and marine islands during the spring and summer 

 months. At such seasons the Kittiwake is very abundant 

 in most districts, but in winter the headlands are quite 

 deserted for the open sea, so that the bird then appears 

 much scarcer round our coasts. It is not nearly so generally 

 distributed as many of the other Gulls ; in fact, it is 

 essentially pelagic. Thus if one carefully observes, with a 

 binocular, the multitudes of Gulls which are dotted over 

 the ooze-flats or the ploughed pasturage, and the 'offal- 

 eating species ' flitting along our city-quays, rarely, if ever, 

 is a Kittiwake seen among their numbers. It is rather the 

 deep blue waters of the open sea that this Gull delights in. 

 None the less, it is a friendly visitor to our fishing-ports 

 and harbours, where now and again it may be seen flying 

 to and fro, or perched on a pier, a floating buoy, or on the 

 side of an empty boat. 



At times it is a great wanderer, indeed, I have seen it, 

 during its peregrinations, escorting steamers across the 

 North Atlantic Ocean, for three consecutive days, covering 

 a distance of approximately 1,000 miles. Bits of bread 

 thrown overboard will rapidly attract numbers together, 

 and so greedy are the birds to secure the booty that those 

 nearest may be seen swooping to the water the instant 

 one's arm is raised even in pretence of throwing food. I 

 have seen this confiding bird follow trawlers and small 

 pleasure-boats, sometimes within an oar's length. 



Flight. The gentle but well-sustained flight resembles 



