330 
LARIDyE. 
will join company with a little group of Kittiw^akes, which 
have not gone south for the season, and may he seen swimming 
with them in the voe. The cry is not unlike that of the 
Arctic Tern. 
In the stomach of the Black-Headed Gull I have found small 
snails, earth-wmrms, and fine roots of plants. 
THE KITTIWAKE. 
Larus triclactylus. 
W^AEG. 
This most engaging of all the Gulls does not return to Shet- 
land from its winter haunts with the exactitude of the punctual 
Putiin, being in some years seen early in February, and in 
others not appearing until IMarch has well set in. For several 
weeks after their arrival the Kittiwakes keep almost entirely 
to the water, and then they take to the cliffs, the first eggs 
being found tow^ard the latter part of May, though I have 
knowm seasons in which the first w^eek of June has passed with 
the newiy-finished nests still empty. By the middle of August 
they have for the most part left the cliffs, and collected in 
flocks of prodigious size, and soon all are gone, with the excep- 
tion of the comparative few w^hich intend to stay the winter. 
These latter form little groups or parties, sometimes rather 
numerous, and show a tendency to keep at some distance from 
the shore. The sound between Balta and the voe is a favourite 
resort of theirs at this season. 
There are few prettier sights for a naturalist than a flock of 
Kitthvakes feeding in a secluded Shetland voe. The birds 
will hover above the w^ater for a few seconds, and then dash 
suddenly in, almost ahvays going right under out of sight, and 
w'ill tlien rise lightly and easily, the wings appearing first, 
raised alcove the back. They ahvays fish to windwmrd, and 
never, so far as I know, plunge with their back to the wind ; 
and in consequence of this habit they gradually work their 
