198 BRITISH BIRDS’ EGGS. 
KITTIWAKE. 
Rissa TRIpactyLa, Linn. 
Pl. XXXIIL, fig. 4. 
Geogr. distr.—Northern portions of Old and New World; travelling 
southwards in the winter, when it strays into the middle States of N. 
America; rare in the Mediterranean. In Great Britain it is resident 
and generally distributed, breeding in great numbers at Flamborough 
Head, Bass Island, and rocks near the Castle of Slains in Aberdeen, 
and on Priestholm Island. 
Food.—Fish and Crustacea and other marine animals. 
Nest.— Bulky, formed of dry grasses, sea-weed, and clay. 
Position of nest.—On jutting ledges and projections of high and 
precipitous cliffs, washed or surrounded by the sea. 
Number of eggs.—2-3 ; rarely 4. 
Time of nidification.—V-VI. 
Mr. Robert Gray says that ‘‘on Ailsa Craig the Kitti- 
wakes 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 on 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 and 
spray, becomes trampled into a kind of clay, which looks as 
if the nest had originally been built of mud, and hence the 
inaccurate reports 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 fired at and fall back dead on the nest, the neigh- 
bours will then rise on wing and flit about, making pitiable 
lamentation, and crying all the while Wittawee, Nittuwee ! 
Ah, get away, get away ! 
“T hope that no true ornithologist or sportsman will find 
fault with me for saying that to practise this kind of shoot- 
ing is a shame.’—(‘ Birds of the West of Scotland,’ p. 479.) 
