KITTIWAKE. 
8 
nearly double that distance ; the two others were obtained near Kirkcubbin, on the borders of Strangford 
Lougb. All these birds were miserably poor in flesh; four of them weighed respectively 10, 9, 8f, and 7f 
ounces avoirdupois ; Bewick notes the weight of the bird as 14 oz. So light were several of these birds that 
they were imagined by persons lifting them to be mere skins, put up in a natural form by the taxidermist. In 
the stomach of one was found a specimen of the fresh-water shell Falndma impiu'a ; of another, the remains of 
a crab ; one was well filled with earthworms and earth (this bird was killed when ‘ following the plough ’) ; 
and the bill of another contained some dry loamy earth ; the stomachs of all the others were empty.” 
I quite agree with MacGillivray when he states ; — “ With us it is scarcely ever seen inland ; nor does it 
ever search the maritime pastures or the ploughed fields along the shores for worms and larvae, like the other 
smaller species of its family. It is an ocean bird, that loves not the haunts of man.” 
While fishing and shooting in the Channel off Shoreham, Lancing, and Worthing during autumn I 
remarked that the young Kittiwakcs generally put in an appearance soon after the beginning of September. 
Ample opportunities for observing the habits of this species Avere met with Avhile steaming in company with the 
fleets of herring-boats in the North Sea off the sandbanks about Ilasborough, Yarmouth, and Lowestoft during 
the autumns of several years. I noticed they were capable of devouring immense quantities of herrings and 
any amount of sprats and fish-liver Avhen cut up into small pieces : we used to feed the swarms of these birds 
that followed the steamboat in order to draw the Skuas in hopes of procuring specimens in some curious stage 
of plumage. The Kittiwakes would hover in hundreds just over the stern, darting down Avhen small pieces of 
fish were flung overboard, and seizing the morsel before it reached the water. Occasionally while fishing for 
cod, of which Ave frequently captured some Aveighing between 30 and 35 lbs., outside the Cross Sands, wo (same 
across immense shoals of very large silver AvLiting, and then those terrible pests the dogfish Avere often attracted 
around, and all sport Avas at an end, as tliey snatched the baits immediately and Avere hauled up every time the 
lines were loAvered : the only chanee then Avas to steam a few miles oft’ and commence again. The manner in 
Avhich the crew of the steamboat amused themselves Avith these ravenous creatures AV'as somewhat amusing. 
They made a large ball of corks and fastening it on to the tails of about ten or a dozen that were tied together, 
they flung the lot overboard : prevented by the corks from going down, the dogfish dashed about just beloAV 
the surface of the Avater and attracted a large assemblage of Gulls that remained circling over and darting down 
to see Avhat was to be obtained. 
While conA'ersing Avith the crcAvs of some of the fishing-luggers I learned that the alloAvance for each of the 
crcAv at a meal Avas thirty-two herrings. Eew, of course, Avere in the habit of consuming wliat they Avere 
entitled to, and I only heard of one man, a nathm of Potter Ileigham in the east of Norfolk, Avho made the 
attempt. This strange individual used to hold the fish by the head and tail and tearing off the flesh on the 
back Avith his mouth fling the remainder overboard. My informant who has noAv the charge of my punts on 
llickling Broad had, when a “youngker” * in the creAv of a fishing-lugger, held the office of cook and Avas AV'ell 
acquainted Avith all the hardships to be encountered when afloat in the stormy North Sea. His first attempt to 
attend to the preparation of the dinner for the crew, he stated, had proved a failure. Having boiled a large cod 
of about 30 lbs., he took the kettle up to pour the Avater out, Avhen a heavy sea striking the boat the fish and 
all the contents Avent overboard. The accident having been observed by the rest of the crew, no remarks were 
made, as there Avas a large stock of cod and herrings in the vessel, and a fresh supply Avas soon procured and 
prepared. 
It is only tAVO or three years since, wLen crossing llickling Broad in a punt, with the man just referred to 
“quanting,” that Ave detected a fine pike lying quietly in a round hollow in a mass of Aveeds that covered the bottom. 
“ That’s a nice fish,” I remarked. “ Yes,” replied Bob, “ Ave had better have him into the boat.” Permission 
having been given to strike the fish, as I Avished to see the operation performed, the punt was sloAvly Avorked 
* This was the name among the fishing fraternity for the youngest hand in the crew on board the boat. 
