]40 
LiAKID.E. 
merate the rocky coasts of Scandinavia, Iceland, Spitzbergen, 
Greenland, the fur countries, and, in fact, the most northern 
parts of the earth that have been explored by travellers. 
During the winter months this bird inhabits the more tem¬ 
perate climes, and is consequently not only more abundant 
on our coast, but goes as far south as the Mediterranean, and 
the western coast of Africa ; specimens having been obtained 
from Senegal. 
The Kittiwake is a perfect sea-bird, frequenting by pre¬ 
ference the rocky shores, not only during the breeding season, 
but at all times, chiefly on account of its principal food con¬ 
sisting in fish of small size, which it swallows whole, and when 
the frost closes up the shallow water near the shore, the bird 
either departs for the open sea or migrates southward to avoid 
the inconvenience of the ice, and also to follow the shoals 
of herrings that swim in that direction. Its food being 
chiefly sea-fish we may account for the fact, of specimens 
obtained during the winter at a distance from the sea, having 
empty stomachs; and in such localities it frequently happens 
that birds of this species are found starved to death in the 
fields. 
In confinement the Kittiwake may be kept alive on a 
certain allowance of fish, and small pieces of tripe, and raw 
meat, intermixed with bread ; but plenty of fresh water is 
indispensable, as the bird bathes very frequently. 
The present species is a regular frequenter of many of our 
rocky shores during the breeding season, choosing the most 
perpendicular rocks for that purpose : the number of these 
birds is very great; their nests are placed side by side in 
long rows facing the sea, and the shelves of the rocks are so 
covered with the birds during the time of their sitting, that 
the rocks appear to be shrouded in snow. We do not find 
anv countries enumerated south of Great Britain in which the 
