KITTIWAKE. 



283 



It will also destroy young- lambs, and feed greedily on carrion ; in de- 

 fect of these it readily eats mice, worms, and insects, and even snakes, 

 the bones of which we have taken from the nest. 



It frequently resorts to the environs of towns to feed on offal, and 

 is seen to sweep such matter from the surface of water with great 

 dexterity. 



*At a farm-house in the neighbourhood of Hastings, a servant 

 girl was alarmed by an unusual uproar among- the poultry ; and 

 on looking out, she saw a large bird hovering close to the window 

 over some coops, where several broods of ducks and chickens were 

 kept. She accordingly sallied forth to drive the bird away, but 

 he took so little notice of her that she snatched up a broom, and 

 actually knocked him down and killed him. It proved to be a Kite, 

 which had probably a nest in a neighbouring wood. A circumstance 

 similar to the above relation we witnessed in one of this species, that 

 afforded us no small entertainment. A poor woman was washing some 

 entrails in a stream of water, part of which extended a few yards out of 

 the basket placed in the water : the hungry bird had long been hovering 

 over, viewing with anxious eye so delicious a bait, and took the oppor- 

 tunity of actually pouncing upon and carrying off a part, in spite of all 

 the woman's efforts with hands and tongue, the latter of which might 

 have alarmed a more powerful enemy. 



In addition to these remarkable circumstances in the biography of 

 this noble bird, we remember an instance of two males, in the spring 

 of the year, being so intent in combat, that they both fell to the ground, 

 holding firmly by each other's talons, and actually suffered themselves 

 to be killed by a woodman who was close by, and who demolished them 

 both with his bill-hook. In England it is chiefly observed in the more 

 wooded districts, where timber trees abound : is common in the eastern 

 parts, rare in the north, and more rare in the west ; for in twelve years' 

 residence in Devonshire, we never observed but one in the southern 

 district of that county.* 



Its flight consists generally of large and sweeping circles, performed 

 with an almost motionless wing, directing its course by the tail, which 

 acts as a rudder, whose slightest motion produces effect. It frequently 

 soars to such a height as to be nearly invisible to the naked eye. 



KILLOCKDOE.— A name for the Black Cock. 



KITTIWAKE (Larus Rissa, Linnjeus.) 



Larus Rissa, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 244. 1. — Gmel. Syst. 2. p. 598. — Temm. Man. 



d'Orn. 2. p. 774 Larus tridactylus, Lath. Ind. Orn. 8. p. 817.2. — Le Goeland 



ccndre, Briss. 6. t. 14. and 17. p. 2 Kittiwake, Br. Zool. 2. No. 250. t. 89.— 



Arct.Zool. 2. p. 456 Lath. Syn. 6, 393. 19 Lewins Br. Birds, 6. t. 213.— 



Pit/t.Cat. Dorset. 18.— ffo/c.Syn. 1. 1. 108 Flem. Br. Anim. p. 141.— -Tarrock, 



Penn. Br. Zool. 2. 251. 



