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KITTIWAKE GULL.

Larus Rissa, Linn.

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La Mouette tridactyle.

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Ir would appear that we must consider this species of Gull r summer bird

a 2 S ner birds of
passage, as “ jour coe south a the winter, and returns again in the spring to its usual haunts. Whether this
is the case with the birds of this species in the continent

is spread far northward along the whole of the E a
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higher latitudes it is a bird of migratory habits. We do not consider that the abbreviated hind toe, which
is a distinguishing characteristic of this Gull, is of sufficient ¢
genus; and though Mr. Stephens has thought differently,
generic title, but retain the word as its specific appellation.
The difference which the plumage of the Kittiwake exhibits at different ages has led to a multiplication
of its synonyms and some degree of confusion, the young having been considered by many ornithologists as
separate species, and described under the title of Larus tridactylus, and in popul
error, like others of the same kind, which in the works of the earlier write

as only one of the list of ou

al parts of Europe we are not able

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to say; but as it
uropean shores, we may conjecture that at least

Se wa
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onsequence to entitle it to rank as a distinct
we are not inclined to adopt the term Rissa as a

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ar language the Tarrock : this

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rs were almost unavoidable, is now
cleared up, the various gradations of plumage from youth to maturity being well ascertained.

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In its habits and manners the Kittiwake generally resembles the rest of its congeners ; it is, however, less

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addicted to seeking its food on the land, but is observed ever busily engaged over the surface of the water, ~
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in pursuit of small fishes, mollusca, crustacea, and other aquatic productions, which constitute its means of /

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subsistence.

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The places chosen for its sites of incubation are the ledges of bold precipitous rocks overhanging the sea:
numbers breed annually on the Farn islands, at Flamborough Head, on the Bass Rock; many also breed
annually about Freshwater, Portland Island, and elsewhere. The nest is made of dried grass and sea-weed,

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and the eggs are two in number, of an olive white, blotched with dark brown and purplish grey.

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The common name of Kittiwake is given to this bird from the peculiar call during the season of incubation,
which the male reiterates as he wheels round his mate upon the nest, or pursues his way on buoyant wing

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over the surface of the waves.

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In its adult stage, which is not attained till the second autumn, the plumage of the Kittiwake is very
simple, the mantle and wing-coverts being fine pearl grey; the quills are tipped and bordered along their
outer margin with black; the head, neck, tail, and under surface white ; bill yellow; tarsi and toes dark
olive green. a7 |

The young of the year have the bill black; head, neck, chest, and under parts white, with the “ rae
of a black spot near the eye and nearly encircling it; a marked crescent of black crosses the upper part o

° — ccanulars are orev; the lesser wing-coverts
the back, and advances upon the neck ; the rest of the back and scapulars are grey ; the lesse :
tal

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ies & assing | shi ‘ith terminal patches of black ;
black ; the greater coverts and secondaries grey, passing into dull white, with te |
white, largely tipped with black. = a
h ings bec re obscure and limited, and the bill acquires a
After the first general moult the black markings become more obs ee
is. 1 elve s after the first, the full plumage 1s
tinge of olive ; at the next autumn moult, that is, in twelve months after the first, |
acquired.

: - bird of the year, of the natural size.
Our Plate represents an adult bird and a young bird of the year, of the :