middle of August the birds which havo bred in the far north
have left the cliffs, and have begun to migrate southwards in
large flocks ; but, from the Shetlands downwards, compara^
tively small numbers are to be found.in ordinary winters
along .the shores which are influenced by the Gulf Stream.
In olden times this Gull was considered good'food, and
Sir Robert Sibbald'\.says that ‘‘-The Kittiweak is as .good
meat as a partridge,” an opinion endorsed in later times by
those inhabitants of Scotland who relish Gannets; * There
is an old story, told: by.Pennant: of a gentleman who,- :as a
whet for his, appetite before dinner, ate^sw, and. did not find
himself a bit moré hungry than when-he began. . Sir James
0. Ross says, “ We killed enough- to supply our party with
several excellent meals, and;found them delioidus food, perfectly
free from any unpleasant flavour.’ ’
: The. young bird-, while'bearing on its plumage the dark-
coloured markings, has been called the Tarrock; the ' adult
bird js the Kitfiwake, and the1 name has reference, to theory
of this Gull, which, when disturbed at its, breedirig^st-ation,
utters three motes in quick succession^ which closely resemble
in sound the word I® question. In Devonshire this::species
is known as the I Hacklet ’ or} ‘ Haeket ’ Gull; in! other
parts it is known as the $ Annef and ini-Shetland as.the
‘ Waeg,’ Mrs Cordeaffix »says that the Elamborough fisher-
men: call tbe .young ^Kittiwakes ‘-Mackerehbirds,’ because
they usually appear at fsna>-with tHeii! -parents in August
when,-the fish are approaching the. coast; H
. The adult bird im summer has the >Mlk greenish-yellow,
inside ,Of,-the mouth orange •; dhe- irides- dusky-brown^the
head and Hie .neck,;all round, pure white; back and wings
pale slate-grey, the secondaries sand- tertials tipped or ëd'gêd*
with white,; the outer margin and tip Of the first primary
quill-fiather black, tbe next three'tipped: with blacky -the
fifth with a black bar near the end, but the extremity white,;
the rest 'grey; tail-eoverts and -tail-feathers, chin; throat,
breast, and all thé under , surface of the body and tail pure
white;; -legs short, and, with the toes and|anterdigital.membranes
dusky in colour, the hind toe generally only a small
tubercle without any projecting horny .nail or claw, for which
reason the species was called tridactylus—three-toed.. The
whole length is fifteen inches and a half; from, the anterior
yoj-nt of the wing to the end of the longest quill-feather
twelve inches.
#.,iThe adult bird in winter has the hind neck pale slate-grey,
like the back.; the occiput, top of the head, and Jfie, region
o,| the ear-coverts streaked with dusky-grey, the other parts
as in summer.
In birds of the previous year there is a dark line down the
outer web of the second primary as well us the first, and
indications of the same colour on the outer web of the third
primary; the outer prim ary-cqverts, have also dark streaks .
The young of the year have the hill black; tha irides
dusky, almost black; upper part pf the head white;• *;the
occiput and, n.apg with a few dusky-grey patches pm a white
group(L; the .-lower part of the neck behind marked by
numerous- blackish-grey f e a t^ ^ ^ back, scapulars, great
wing-coverts, andseCopdaries, pale slate-grey slightly tipped
with brownish-wliS% which gradually wears off; joints of
the smaller wing-covets black, forming a dark bar ;'4jae four
outer primaries on each-^jjqgiblack on. tbe oUt|^, webs, and
nl.HQ. in decreasing proportions on tbe inner wpbs next the
shafts; tertials pale slate-gp§y, - wj%, a spot of black near
the end, the inner broad web margined with white.; upper
and under tail-Q-Overfs, white»; fail-feather? white, barred with
black at the end, ejpppt the outer tail-feathers eft each .side,
which are the smallest; 'pinlps meek; breast, and all the under
sjp-facejpiL tbe body, pure white Jigs,- tp.e§, and membranes,
pale brown.
The downy n'estllhfeus white on t’hfe head and underparts,
with a bnff. tlnt^on .the shoulders and flanks ; back greyish;
bill neaily-Mack; feet 'dusky with yellowish webs, |
Yarieti^rhf fife. Kittiw^e -are very rare; th e Editor is
Jndebied^tA^Mr. E. Hargitt for a perfect .alhinq.obtained in
Iceland on the 29th tssepfgmber, J877-