188 KITTIWAKE GULL. 



on the water, or in the air, few birds surpass it in buoyancy, grace, and 

 ease of motion. Bearing up against the heaviest gale, it passes from one 

 trough of the sea to another, as if anxious to rest for an instant under the 

 lee of the billows ; yet as these are seen to rear their curling crests, the 

 Gull is already several feet above them, and preparing to plunge into the 

 next hollow. While in our harbour, and during fine weather, they seemed 

 to play with their companions of other species. Now with a spiral curve, 

 they descend toward the water, support themselves by beats of their wings, 

 decline their heads, and pick up a young herring or some bit of garbage, 

 when away they fly, chased perhaps by several others anxious to rob them 

 of the prize. Noon has arrived. High above the mast-head of our tall- 

 est man-of-war, the Kittiwakes float gracefully in wide circles, until all, 

 as if fatigued, sail downward again with common accord towards the 

 transparent deep, and, alighting close to each other, seem to ride safely at 

 anchor. There they now occupy themselves in cleaning and arranging 

 their beautiful plumage. 



The food of this species consists of small fish, sea insects, and small 

 bivalves, most of which they procure while on wing, even those left dry 

 by the tide. Unlike the larger species, they do not take up shell-fish to 

 break them by letting them fall on the rocks ; at least I never saw them 

 do so. Their principal enemies are different species of Lestris, especially 

 that beautiful one named the L. parasitmis. This tormentor follows the 

 Kittiwake to the very waters around the Gulf of Florida during the 

 winter. There with astonishing swiftness, and an audacity scarcely to be 

 surpassed, it gives chase to the Gull, overtakes it, and forces it to alight 

 on the water, or to disgorge the fish which it has just swallowed. 



The two represented in the plate were drawn at Boston, at the ap- 

 proach of spring, when the old birds had already assumed the pure white 

 of the head. This species was so abundant on several of the islands of 

 the Bay of Boston, that several basketfuls of them were procured in the 

 course of a few excursions. When one fell to the water, the rest would 

 hover about and around the boat, until many were shot from a flock. 

 The case was the same, while we were in some of the harbours of Labra- 

 dor. 



