brunnich's kittiwake. 



183 



in front and behind the eyes, as well as the dark 

 feathers near the ears and on the nape, become of 

 a deep ashy-blue : the wings still retain the black 

 and brown spot : the tail is black towards its tip : 

 the beak is of a yellowish-green, and all the under 

 parts are pure white. 



This species affects the stagnant lakes, or interior 

 seas and gulfs, in preference to the borders of the 

 ocean itself : it proceeds to the southward in the au- 

 tumn and remains till the spring, when they retire to 

 the regions of the Arctic Circle to breed, building 

 in the rocky crags of the bays : in June it lays two 

 or three eggs of a greenish-ash colour, spotted with 

 brown. During the period of incubation the parents 

 are very noisy. They feed on fishes, their fry, and 

 insects : swim well ; and are often found at a distance 

 from land on floating masses of ice. 



