Mr iSdmondston on the Kittiwake^ 9§ 
hind each ear a spot of a darker shade of the same colour ; the 
plumage otherwise similar to that of the kittiwake. 
If it be not the Larus Rissa^ it seems clearly undescribed : if 
it be, it at least presents a variety of habits before unascribed to 
that species; 
In Zetland, a few of the young of the kittiwake remain dur- 
ing the winter^ and they are sufficiently clearly marked through- 
out that season by the black bill, bars of the same colour across 
the wings, at the tips of the tail-feathersj and almost surrounding 
the neck ; but from them^ the bird I allude to differs remark- 
ably, and it seenis as different from the adult kittiwake as die 
Larus canus is; I had frequently observed these birds in Zet- 
land towards the end of autumn, in small flocks^ generally fre- 
quenting exposed bays; but taking it indolently for granted 
that they were merely the young of the kittiwake, I had not 
thought of observing them attentively; 
Wishing, however, last autumn^ to procure some specimens^ 
and observing them unusually numerous, their peculiarities were 
more attended to. The plumage of all seemed perfectly and uni- 
formly alike, and peculiarly full, — much more so, it occurred 
to me, than that of the kittiwake ; quite like what I have re- 
marked in the silvery gtill. Its skin was very thick, and de- 
fended by a layer of fat, such as may be found in the same 
situation in the auks; and these are peculiarities I have usually 
observed in arctic birds. It was also in a much greater degree 
difficult to kill than the kittiwake. Great numbers were fre- 
quenting the coast, and were apparently devoid of fear. Mul- 
titudes were taken with a line and fish-bait. They seemed, 
on their first appearance, very much emaciated and fatigued, 
I presume from the effects of recent and protracted migra- 
tion, but even then weighed fully as much as the kittiwake 
in its best plight. Its form seemed more elegant^ erect, and 
elongated. Its mode of flight occurred to me to be different, 
not unlike that of the lapwing. Its sexual organs were very 
distinct, not at all obscurcj like those of the young kitti- 
wake, from which it was well distinguished, when they were 
seen contrasted with each other. If these, then, be the same,* 
how happened they to present such differences at the same 
Season ? And how is it accounted for, that these birds should 
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