LAUlU.li— THE OULLS AND TEUNH — UISSA. 



205 



Aiiilubon iouiul it Inri'iling on tlio (raiiiH't Ifocks ut tin' St. Liiwrt'iicc, whore it 

 (idiitiiiucs to do so ill lar^'c munlK'is; and this is probably its most southern bivcdiiij,'- 

 l.lacf on tli(! Atlantic. J>r. Jhyaut did not meet with any on tho coasts of iMainc, 

 New liiunswick, or Nova Scotia. 



In Enghind tho young and thu old Kittiwakcs aro popuhuly rcganhHl as being 

 lui) distinct species. The former is known as the "Tarrock," and the latter as the 

 •• Kittiwake," from the cry of this CluU when disturbed at its breeding-stations, as its 

 tiireo notes, littered in (luick succession, resenil)le this word. Yarrell (juotes iin inter- 

 esting account of a young Kittiwake which had bct-n reared from its nest, and whi<'h 

 lici'auie ([uiti! domesticated, and so strongly attached to its benefactors that although 

 Iclt at lull liberty, it would mate during the summer, inhabiting the clilfs on the 

 const of the Isle of Wight, and in the winter returning to live with its friends. It 

 «;ts so familiar with those persons it knew, that it would enter their cottages and eat 

 f II nil their hands; but would not permit the approach of a stranger. 



The nests of this species — found on (iannet Itock, in the St. Lawrence — are 

 described by Audubon as placed on narrow ledges, and composed of eel-grass and 

 other coarse grasses from the ui)per portions of tlit! island. The surfaces of the nests 

 were (piite Hat, although some were several inches in thickness, and appeared to have 

 been added to from year to year. The sitting birds remained persistently on their 

 eggs, seldom flying off, but merely moving to one side. The male birds were exci^ed- 

 iiigly clamorous, flew around the party in great concern, and showed much courage. 

 The eggs are described as being of a liglit olive-green color, marked with numerous 

 incgular spots of dark brown. Their average length was 2.25 inches, and their 

 breadth 1.87. 



The form found on the I'aciflc shores, and known to some writers as the Jiinsa 

 Kotxebui, dift'ers so little from the common J{. trUhicfi/ld that it can only be regarded 

 as a very proximate variety. Its habits and general pt'culiarities are not in any wise 

 (lilt'ereut, but it apixnirs to be confined exclusively to the waters of the North Tacific, 

 where it is chiefly found in the Aleutian Islands and on the northeastern coast of Asia. 

 Mr. Dull states that this variety was found by him frequenting the regions about the 

 peninsula of Aliaska at all seasons, but was seldom known to come into tho harbor 

 except (luring storms. A pair came into Ilinliak Harbor, in Unalashka, whenever in 

 the course of the winter a severe gale was blowing on the outside, but were not seen 

 umlcv any different circumstances. They were considered by Mr. Dall as presenting 

 well-marked differences in their ai)pearance from the Common Kittiwake, as well as 

 from the R. brevirostria, which is so very common in the Prybilof Islands. 



According to the observations of Mr. Elliott, tliesc^ birds breed in this I'rybilof 

 ({roup, by tens of thousands, in company with the fnrrhvutrls, coming at the same 

 time, but laying a week or ten days earlier. In all other respects the two correspond 

 in habits, and are present in just about the same numbers. 



Two examples of this species were obtained at Sitka by Hischoff. The young 

 were shot at Amak Island, north of Aliaska, by Captain Smith. This bird is abundant 

 at Sitka, and also at Plover Bay, Siberia. 



Mr. Dall, in his Notes on the Aleutian Islands, mentions his obtaining its nests, 

 eg^'s, and young about July 11, 1872, at Kound Island, Coal Harbor, Unga Island, 

 Hliuiiiagins. It was also common at Delaroff Harbor, Unga, and was seen at Kadiak. 

 On entering Coal Harbor he was struck with a peculiar white line which wound round 

 the i)recipitous cliffs of Round Island, that was found to be caused by the presence 

 of these birds. The nests in their position were unlike anything he had ever seen 

 helore. They appeared as if fastened to the perpendicular face of the rock; but a 





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