BIRDS 437 



a similar bird when shooting on the Duddon estuary on the 

 24th of October 1885. The Iceland Gull has not been obtained 

 on our coasts in adult plumage. 



KITTIWAKE. 



Rissa tridactyla (L. ). 



There are no cliffs on our coast suitable to the requirements 

 of this rock-loving species except at St. Bees, where it does not 

 happen to breed. It is seldom, therefore, seen in the summer 

 months, but in winter and spring it is fairly common along our 

 shores, being more often washed ashore dead after gales at sea 

 than any other member of the Laridse. Such birds are often in 

 the immature or 'tarrock' dress, which is otherwise little known 

 to our local observers. On Walney Island I have picked up 

 mature birds which had succumbed to the winter tempests ; the 

 same must be said of the Solway Firth. Though common on 

 our open coasts, it is only after gales that the immature birds 

 are noticed on the upper portion of the Solway. Even so ex- 

 cellent an observer as W. Nicol sent to me, as new to him, a 

 couple of young Kittiwakes which he shot at Skinburness in 

 November 1888. In the spring of the year a few Kittiwakes 

 often assemble in the fields a few miles from salt water to feed 

 on the worms and grubs exposed by early ploughing. A straggler 

 occasionally delays its departure after the arrival of summer. 

 Thus, in 1891, when visiting Salta moss with Mr. R. Mann on 

 the 23rd of June, we observed a single immature Kittiwake 

 flying among the Black-headed Gulls which were nesting there. 

 The Gulls did not like its presence; they mobbed it, and 

 eventually drove it away, but not before we had enjoyed a close 

 inspection of the intruder. 



IVORY GULL. 



Pagophila eburnea (Phipps). 



The late Mr. J. Hindson states in his MS. catalogue : ' This 

 Gull has been killed two or three times in Morecambe Bay.' 

 Though unable to directly confirm this statement, I can vouch 



