234 LARUS TRIDACTYLUS. 



On a bright day, with plenty of sun, a lot of Kittiwakes crowding onto 

 a buoy is at once a common and a pretty sight off Kingstown ; and I have 

 watched them often. 



Mr. W. Mattieu Wilhams, in his book 'Through Norway' (pp. 109 & 

 110), describes a breeding-place of Kittiwakes near the North Cape- 

 "Spirte Njarga Sverholtklubben." 



He says, " the Fuglebjerg, forming a part of this promontory, presents 

 one of the most wonderful displays of animal life to be seen in any part of 

 the world." 



He speaks of a series of ledges above a thousand feet high. " On these 

 ledges, which extend along the face of the rock for more than a mile, and 

 are about two or three feet apart, are perched hundreds of thousands of sea- 

 birds, all squatting side by side, and equidistant from each other, about eight 

 or ten inches apart, in horizontal rows, their white breasts contrasting 

 strongly with the black rock behind. 



" The regularity of their arrangement on the ledges is very grotesque ; 

 they appear like an audience of a million or two of male pigmies in evening 

 dress — all shirt-front — occupying accurately measured seats. They are, for 

 the most part, the Kittiwake. 



" On blowing the steam-whistle a roar of wings is heard, mingled with 

 harsh wailing screams, and a huge cloud rises from the face of the rock and 

 darkens the sky. I have seen great clouds of sea-birds on the coast of 

 Scotland, but nothing approaching this astounding multitude. I dare 

 not estimate their numbers, not having any means of estimating the 

 area of the living cloud, and the number of strata composing it, nor any 



