332 
LARID.E. 
described. The average measurement is two inches two lines 
by one inch seven lines ; but I once had a specimen brought 
to me, perfect in colour’, which measured only one inch four 
lines by one inch one line. 
In the months of June and July great numbers of Kitti- 
wakes may be seen fl}"ing backwards and forwards between 
their nests at Burrafirth and the loch of Cliff, apparently to 
feed on the aquatic weeds and confervae growing upon the 
stones in the fresh water. I have shot them on the way back, 
to ascertain the object of their journeys, and have never found 
amThing in the stomach but these green water-weeds. At 
times I have found in them the remains of small beetles, but 
fish and fresh-water algse, when the latter are to be had, seem 
to be the staple of their diet. 
The young birds do not breed during their first year, and 
are known in Unst as ‘‘yi^ld” Elittiwakes. 
[^Yith regard to this, Thomas Edmondston says Zoologist,” 
1844, p. 465), “A few birds remain during the winter; these 
differ from the summer state in having the back of the head 
and a spot behind each ear pale greyish blue. In this state the 
Kittiwake is vernacularly termed ' craa-maa ’ or Crow-Gull, 
and it is also called ' yeeld ’ (or barren) Kittiwake.” — Ed.] 
lYOEY GULL. 
Larus eburneus. 
The first recorded observation of the Ivory Gull in the 
British Isles was in 1822, when Dr Laurence Edmondston met 
with it at Balta Sound, as mentioned in the Memoirs of the 
Wernerian Society,” vol. iv. p. 501. Another specimen is 
reported by his son to have been kiUed some years prior to 1844, 
and to have been seen by himself when fresh. On the 16th 
of January 1861 I saw an Ivory Gull at the head of the voe 
at Balta Sound, swimming about catching sillacks. It was 
very nearly pure white, but there were a few greyish marks 
